Mexican state governor and mayor step aside facing US drug charges
發佈日期: 2026-05-03 13:24
TVB News
The governor of Mexico's northwestern state of Sinaloa Ruben Rocha Moya has stepped aside days after he was indicted in the US on drug trafficking charges.
The announcement came as Rocha and nine other Mexican politicians and security officials were charged with alleged involvement in helping a faction of the Sinaloa cartel led by the Chapitos.
In a televised address late Friday, Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya the highest-ranking official named in the indictment said he has submitted a request to the state Congress for a temporary leave of absence from the position he has held for six years while the investigation is underway.
According to the US Justice Department Rocha and others had protected the cartel and helped smuggle large quantities of narcotics into the US in exchange for political support and bribes.
Rocha vowed those charges would be "proven false" in a post on X and called them an attack against Mexico's ruling political movement to which he belongs.
Local lawmakers appointed Yeraldine Bonilla Valverde as interim governor in a special vote Saturday.
Juan de Dios Gamez Mendivil the mayor of Sinaloa state capital of Culiacan was also named in the indictment and similarly announced he would take leave from his post.
In leaving their positions even temporarily officials would lose their blanket protection from criminal prosecution.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum who is of the same progressive Morena party as Rocha has pledged to stamp out corruption while defending national sovereignty.
She insisted if federal authorities uncovered "irrefutable" evidence connecting the indicted officials with cartel crime the accused would be tried in Mexico, not the US.
Meanwhile, Mexico's attorney general said no arrests will be made while the probe continues.
The stepping down of the governor and mayor was good news for some residents living cartel violence almost daily in Sinaloa.
A local doctor expressed rejoice and said it was unfortunate that it was another country that had to step in and take action on the situation they're facing.
A veterinarian stated the administration has been protecting Rocha a lot but he does not think it will shield him from US legal issues.
