Ruben Rocha Moya, the governor of Mexico's Sinaloa state, returned to his position on Friday after a three-month leave of absence. This move follows his indictment by the U.S. in April on drug trafficking charges, which accused him and nine other officials of conspiring with a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, known as Los Chapitos. The indictment alleged that Rocha Moya's administration helped traffic "massive quantities" of narcotics into the United States in exchange for political support and bribes, including claims of kidnapping and threatening opposition candidates during the 2021 election.
Rocha Moya, a member of President Claudia Sheinbaum's Morena party, had initially stepped down temporarily in May to address what he called "false and malicious" allegations. Upon his return, he declared he was resuming his duties with a "clear conscience" and "head held high." He stated that Mexican authorities found no evidence to support the U.S. accusations, framing the U.S. case as a politically motivated attack on Sheinbaum's leftist movement.
The Mexican government, including President Sheinbaum, has previously expressed skepticism about the U.S. indictment, demanding "solid and irrefutable" evidence. While Mexican authorities initiated their own investigation into Rocha Moya, they have since stated that Washington has not provided sufficient evidence to justify his arrest or extradition. The Interior Ministry confirmed that Rocha Moya's return was his decision and that the Attorney General's investigation into him is ongoing.
Rocha Moya's return is seen by some analysts as a strategic move to reinforce Mexico's sovereignty and counter U.S. pressure. Experts like Martin Castillo of the University of Chicago noted Mexico's willingness to extradite drug lords but reluctance to extradite members of the ruling political party. However, Morena and President Sheinbaum reportedly gave a cool reception to Rocha's return, with the party issuing a statement denying prior knowledge of his decision. David Mora, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group, suggested Rocha's return puts Sheinbaum in a "more complicated position" with increased pressure from the U.S.
This development further strains U.S.-Mexico relations, which have been tense due to the Trump administration's efforts to pressure Mexico on drug trafficking and migration. The indictment of a sitting governor by the U.S. marked a significant escalation, previously considered a "nuclear option" by experts such as Vanda Felbab-Brown of the Brookings Institution. The U.S. State Department has not yet commented on how it will respond to Rocha Moya's return to office.
