Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya Requests Indefinite Leave After Drug Charges

Rubén Rocha Moya, the Governor of Sinaloa, Mexico, requested an indefinite leave of absence on August 22, one day after returning to office following a three-month absence due to U.S. drug trafficking charges against him. In a letter shared on social media, Rocha, 77, did not specify a return date or the reasons for his leave. He had previously stated that he was fulfilling his duty to voters until October 31, 2027, and claimed to have returned with a clear conscience. Rocha spent 112 days away from his position while cooperating with Mexican authorities regarding what he described as false accusations from the U.S. government. He expressed that the investigation had not produced evidence of wrongdoing and accused political opponents of attempting to undermine his position and the left-wing movement he represents. The ruling Morena party and President Claudia Sheinbaum distanced themselves from Rocha's return, with Sheinbaum emphasizing the importance of public service over personal interests. U.S. prosecutors charged Rocha and nine other officials in April with drug trafficking and related offenses, marking Rocha as the first sitting Mexican governor to face such charges from the U.S. This situation has created tension between the U.S. and Mexico, with Sheinbaum labeling the charges as foreign interference and Mexico demanding more evidence for Rocha's arrest or extradition.