Ruben Rocha Moya

Rubén Rocha Moya, former Governor of Sinaloa (2021–2026), is currently facing a federal indictment in the United States by the Southern District of New York. Filed in April 2026, the charges include international drug trafficking (fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine) and the illegal use of military-grade firearms. U.S. authorities allege that he maintained an alliance with "Los Chapitos" of the Sinaloa Cartel, accepting bribes and providing protection in exchange for illicit operational support, including the intimidation of political rivals during his 2021 gubernatorial campaign. Rocha Moya has categorically denied these allegations, characterizing them as politically motivated. Following the indictment, he requested a temporary leave of absence from the governorship on May 2, 2026, to focus on his legal defense. He has since appeared before Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (FGR) to provide testimony, though no formal charges have been brought against him within Mexico as of July 2026. Beyond the U.S. case, he has faced numerous local controversies. These include allegations of nepotism and a complex network of public contract awards benefiting companies linked to his children and political associates. In 2020, he was formally accused of influence peddling regarding construction contracts. Additionally, he was implicated in a 2024 letter by Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, which alleged the governor was present at a meeting that led to Zambada’s capture and the murder of politician Héctor Melesio Cuén Ojeda, a claim Rocha Moya has publicly rejected.