Rubén Rocha Moya, the former governor of Sinaloa, publicly dismissed rumors that he is under federal protection or hiding, affirming that he remains at home. In a statement shared on his social media accounts, Rocha Moya said, “I am at my house,” directly contradicting reports that federal forces had relocated him last Monday due to a planned extraction by the United States.

These claims emerged amid ongoing investigations linked to accusations from the U.S. Department of Justice, which allege that Rocha Moya and other former Sinaloa officials have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. Following these allegations, Rocha requested a leave of absence from his position to facilitate investigations by Mexico’s Fiscalía General de la República.

Conflicting information about his security detail has circulated in recent weeks. In May, Mexico City’s then-mayor Claudia Sheinbaum stated that Rocha had requested federal protection after stepping down, a common procedure for individuals undergoing risk assessments. However, Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, later clarified that Rocha Moya does not have federal protection and did not request security measures from the federal security cabinet. He also noted uncertainty about whether Rocha’s bodyguards belong to the Sinaloa state government.

Rocha Moya’s reappearance comes as investigations continue and debates intensify over the federal government’s handling of the case. Critics from opposition parties and transparency experts have raised concerns about decisions such as the classification of diplomatic information related to the investigation.

This situation highlights the complex intersection of politics, security, and justice in Mexico, underscoring the challenges faced by public officials under scrutiny and the importance of transparent institutional processes.