ALABAMA - With violence in parts of northern Mexico continuing to spiral, authorities in the new Claudia Sheinbaum administration are scrambling to address the situation as clashes between two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have led to more than 150 deaths in the state, including members of criminal groups, civilians and even casualties involving Mexico's armed forces.
In this context, local officials and law enforcement are facing scrutiny from federal authorities. During the first week of October, members of local police in Culiacán, Sinaloa, were taken off the streets after the army confiscated their weapons for inspection, as they suspect officers might be working with cartels or carrying unregistered firearms.
Now it has come to light that Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya is being investigated for alleged ties to the Sinaloa Cartel faction known as "Los Chapitos," led by the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
The ties had been publicly mentioned by "El Mayo" in a letter published shortly after his capture: there, he revealed that he was supposed to meet with Rocha Moya before being detained. Although Sinaloa's governor has denied any wrongdoing or ties with criminal groups, an intelligence report from SEDENA obtained by Proceso magazine details cooperation between Rocha Moya and the faction known as "Los Chapitos."
In the documents, SEDENA also says it's surveilling Rocha Moya's son, José Rocha Ruiz, for being a possible intermediary between his dad and the Sinaloa Cartel faction.
The report details that Rocha Moya has grown "extremely nervous" and "deeply worried" about his and his family's safety since Zambada was detained by U.S. officials in July.
The document reveals that Rocha Moya counts with protection 24 hours a day by members of the National Guard and the Navy, putting at his disposal armored trucks as well as snipers as the governor could be the target of an assassination plot.
According to the documents shared by the CNI and SEDENA, the investigation began during the last days of Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration as part of the investigation into the homicide of Melesio Cuén and the alleged illegal capture of Zambada.
Despite publicly backing Rocha Moya during his administration, AMLO did not deny the investigation is taking place and said that "we just have to wait and hear the governor's (Rocha Moya) version so we can have all the elements to continue the investigation."
As the investigation continues, Rocha Moya doubled down on his innocence during a press conference, saying that "nothing would be found." He went on to add that media coverage has magnified what is actually happening in the state, saying that "Sinaloa is not among the most violent states, we are below the national average."
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