The governor of the Mexican state of Sinaloa said on Friday he will temporarily step down from his post, days after he was indicted in the US on drug trafficking charges,
Ruben Rocha Moya, the governor of Sinaloa since 2021, and nine current or former high-ranking Mexican officials were charged in a five-count indictment unsealed Wednesday with allegedly helping a faction of the cartel led by the Chapitos, the sons of Joaquin Guzman Loera — also known as El Chapo.
Prosecutors in New York allege Rocha Moya met with the Chapitos prior to his election and assured them that if elected, he would put officials friendly to their drug trafficking operations into power. Cartel members stole ballot boxes and kidnapped or intimidated opponents to drop out of the race to ensure his victory, according to the indictment.
In a video message released Friday evening, Rocha reiterated his rejection of the charges said that his request to step aside aims to “facilitate the actions of Mexican authorities” in the investigation.
Rocha’s announcement came hours after Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office reported it had found there was not enough evidence to provisionally detain him for extradition to the US.
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