Mexican Officials Step Down Amid U.S. Drug Trafficking Charges

Sat, 02 May 2026 23:14:00 +0200

Two Mexican politicians, Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and Mayor Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil, have temporarily stepped down from their posts after being indicted by U.S. authorities for drug trafficking. The indictment accuses them, along with eight others, of collaborating with the Sinaloa cartel in exchange for bribes. Governor Rocha, a prominent figure in President Claudia Sheinbaum’s party, denies the charges and asserts his innocence. He announced his temporary leave in a video, claiming the accusations are politically motivated. Similarly, Mayor Gámez Mendívil has also denied the charges and agreed to step down temporarily while a legal process unfolds. Mexican President Sheinbaum expressed that while there is no credible evidence against the officials, Mexican authorities will conduct their own investigation. Despite the allegations, Rocha emphasized his loyalty to the public and claimed he had never betrayed the people of Sinaloa. This scandal underscores the ongoing tensions betwe