Sinaloa officials’ leave disputed as U.S. case continues

Reporting and context

Six months after U.S. charges against Rubén Rocha Moya and nine other current and former officials, investigations remain open in Mexico and the United States while Sinaloa faces disputes over officials' leaves of absence, according to Noroeste.

The outlet reported that the U.S. Justice Department filed charges on April 29 alleging collaboration with Los Chapitos. Those named include Rocha, Senator Enrique Inzunza Cázarez, Culiacán Mayor Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil, former finance secretary Enrique Díaz Vega, Deputy Attorney General Dámaso Castro Saavedra and former public security secretary Gerardo Mérida Sánchez.

Other defendants named in the report are Marco Antonio Almanza Avilés, Alberto Jorge Contreras Núñez, José Antonio Dionisio Hipólito and Juan Valenzuela Millán, known as “Juanito.” The allegations include narcotics-importation conspiracy and weapons offenses; Valenzuela also faces allegations related to the kidnapping and murder of a confidential DEA source.

Rocha requested leave on May 1, and the state congress appointed Yeraldine Bonilla Valverde interim governor the following day. After 112 days away, he returned on August 21, then requested another indefinite leave roughly 34 hours later. On August 25, congress named Graciela Domínguez Nava interim governor to finish the term ending October 31, 2027.

Gámez's leave reached six months on November 1. PRI council member Erika Sánchez Martínez sought a declaration of permanent absence, citing a constitutional six-month limit. Municipal secretary José Ernesto Peñuelas Castellanos argued that the leave remains valid because the council approved it without an end date. Ana Miriam Ramos Villarreal continues as provisional mayor.

Castro's leave reached six months on November 5. State Attorney General Claudia Zulema Sánchez Kondo had said in August that he would legally need to resign if he did not return when it expired. José Roberto Quiñonez Coronado has headed the deputy attorney general's office during his absence.

Noroeste also reported that Mérida entered U.S. custody in Nogales, Arizona, on May 11 and later pleaded not guilty. Díaz surrendered to U.S. authorities in New York on May 15. Five of those accused were reported at an FGR interview in Culiacán on May 26; Rocha and Inzunza publicly confirmed attending, while Gámez did not publicly confirm his reported attendance.

The FGR has said it needs more evidence to advance proceedings related to the U.S. request. The source reports no definitive resolution of the accusations.

Original report: Noroeste.