Governor Rocha: Cartel Ties and Rising Calls to Resign

(Culiacán, Sinaloa) — Death comes easy in Sinaloa. But when it arrives at a politician’s door, nothing about it feels simple. Governor Rubén Rocha Moya’s silence amplifies the tension—a quiet that grows louder each day as the truth goes unsaid.

Governor Rubén Rocha Moya finds himself cornered by allegations of corruption, cartel alliances, and lies that run deep. Sinaloa residents, fed up with rising violence and cartel influence in their government, have demanded his resignation from office, formally petitioning the Instituto Electoral del Estado de Sinaloa (IEES) for a recall of his mandate.

In Sinaloa, everyone knows Rocha’s pockets run deep, allegedly lined with fentanyl cash from Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, the eldest son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and a key player in the fentanyl trade. Recent allegations suggest that Rocha’s ties extend to protecting “Los Chapitos,” who reportedly operate with impunity under his administration’s watch.

Cornered by Corruption

Rocha has been tied not only to Sinaloa’s ruling cartel factions but also to the death of his longtime political rival, Héctor Melesio Cuén Ojeda. According to reports from Mexico’s federal prosecutor, Cuén Ojeda was murdered on a ranch tied to drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, not at the gas station originally cited by state investigators. Federal authorities recently dismantled the cover story promoted by Sinaloa’s state police, calling it a “crude montage” to deflect blame away from Rocha.

“We believe in institutions and trust that the Attorney General’s Office is doing its job,” Rocha muttered at his weekly briefing, stepping carefully over the ticking minefield of Cuén Ojeda’s murder.

This well-rehearsed rhetoric has become Rocha’s script. Born in the cartel heartland of Badiraguato, Rocha knows that silence can serve as a political lifeline, protecting him from accusations of complicity in Sinaloa’s dangerous web of power and crime.

Blood Ties and Betrayals

The morenista governor has repeatedly denied accusations of protecting Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons. However, allegations are mounting that Rocha accepted financial support from “Los Chapitos,” reportedly receiving millions in pesos and campaign support in exchange for protection.

Further reports indicate Rocha promised key administrative roles to allies of Los Chapitos but failed to follow through, causing internal friction. A leaked intelligence report from the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) recently implicated Rocha and his son, José Rocha Ruiz, as intermediaries with Los Chapitos.

Under Fire, Yet Unmoved

Public frustration with Rocha has only grown. Following El Mayo Zambada’s capture and Cuén Ojeda’s death, Sinaloa’s violence has spiked, and clashes between “Los Chapitos” and “La Mayiza” have left residents living in terror. As criticism mounts, Rocha has continued to deny all allegations, claiming to act only in Sinaloa’s best interests, while allies like President Claudia Sheinbaum call for evidence before passing judgment.

Yet even Sheinbaum’s support may not be enough. Groups linked to La Mayiza recently distributed flyers accusing Rocha of protecting Los Chapitos and openly declared their opposition to his rule.

Silence as Survival

Rocha’s refusal to break that silence, even as the body count climbs, isn’t an act of statesmanship—it’s complicity. In Sinaloa, silence isn’t a pause; it’s currency. It’s what keeps the wheels turning. Rocha knows it, Los Chapitos know it, and so do the people who’ve been paying the price for generations.

Until someone finds the courage to break the silence, the killings, corruption, and complicity will keep spinning on—fueled by fentanyl dollars that flow from American demand, keeping Sinaloa’s brutal cycle alive.

With information from Infobae, Proceso