A documentary by the German network Deutsche Welle (DW) once again put the spotlight on allegations about an alleged intervention by the Sinaloa Cartel in the 2021 Sinaloa gubernatorial election, in which Rubén Rocha Moya was the winner.
The central testimony corresponds to a man who identifies himself as a member of the Sinaloa Cartel and whose identity and voice were modified.
In a safe house in Culiacán, the alleged hitman assured DW cameras that the criminal group played a decisive role in guaranteeing Rocha Moya's victory. According to their version, the organization could resort to theft of ballot boxes, intimidation of voters and threats against political adversaries.
When asked if Rocha Moya would have become governor without the support of Los Chapitos, the man responded no, arguing that the criminal leaders were the ones who “moved the chess game.”
His statement is part of the documentary “Mexico under the control of the cartels: the power in the shadows in Sinaloa”, broadcast by DW in early August.
One of the testimonies included in the documentary is that of Paola Gárate Valenzuela, then a local opposition deputy, who reported that she was kidnapped on June 5, 2021, one day before the election. According to his story, his captors warned him that they had to ensure that the Morena party won the elections or there would be deadly consequences.
Gárate also reported that the threats continued after those events. In the documentary she reported that she found a funeral wreath with her surnames outside her home and that she currently has protection due to threats against her and her family.
The content becomes more relevant because some of the allegations exposed in the documentary coincide with accusations included by the United States Department of Justice in a formal accusation presented on April 29, 2026 against Rocha Moya and nine other current and former Sinaloa officials.
According to the US file, before the 2021 elections, Rocha Moya would have met with members of Los Chapitos, including Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar and Ovidio Guzmán López.
The accusation maintains that, in that meeting, the leaders of the criminal group offered to support his electoral victory, while the then candidate had promised to place officials favorable to the interests of the cartel in positions of authority.
