FGR Grills Rocha on El Mayo Case

“FGR requests evidence from Rubén Rocha on whereabouts during ‘El Mayo’ kidnapping. Rocha asserts readiness to cooperate, denying involvement, vows compliance with the authorities’ requests.”

### FGR Requests Evidence from Rubén Rocha on His Whereabouts During “El Mayo” Kidnapping

Rubén Rocha Moya, the Governor of Sinaloa and Morena party member, disclosed on September 2, 2024, that he has been asked by the Prosecutor General’s Office (FGR) to provide evidence of his location on the day that Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael Mario Zambada García, alias “El Mayo,” was allegedly kidnapped. The kidnapping was reportedly carried out by Joaquín Guzmán López, known as “El Güero Moreno,” the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Additionally, Rocha Moya is also to provide evidence related to the murder of Héctor Melesio Cuén Ojeda, a federal deputy elect and former rector of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS), which occurred on July 25, 2024, in Culiacán de Rosales.

In a press conference, the governor affirmed he would comply with the request from authorities. “As the president [Andrés Manuel López Obrador] said, we must testify before the authorities when requested. I have no problem with that,” Rocha Moya stated.

“It is a lie that I was involved on July 25 [2024] regarding the Zambada case. Whoever says so is lying,” Rocha reiterated. He shared that on August 30, during a meeting in Mexico City, he was asked if he would testify to the FGR, to which he responded affirmatively, stating that he would go whenever summoned.

Rocha Moya also suggested it is “unlikely” that Claudia Sánchez Kondo, the new head of the State Prosecutor’s Office of Sinaloa, would be called to testify, as she was the vice-prosecutor of the central zone and not involved in the murder investigation of Cuén Ojeda at that time.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador mentioned on August 22, 2024, that it is up to the FGR to decide if the governor should testify regarding the case, emphasizing public trust in the investigation.

Zambada García had previously confirmed the version shared by Keneth Lee Salazar, Mexico’s Ambassador to the United States, that he had been ambushed by “El Güero Moreno” while awaiting a meeting with Rocha Moya and Cuén Ojeda.

In a letter disseminated by his lawyer Frank Pérez, Zambada detailed the incident, stating he did not voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Government. He narrated how he was invited to a meeting to resolve political differences, which turned into an ambush. The meeting location was crowded with armed men he believed were Guzmán’s hitmen. The letter also recounts the murder of Cuén Ojeda on July 25, highlighting inaccuracies in the official account of the incident.

### Secondary Article

#### Arrest Made in Connection With “El Mayo” Kidnapping Case

Mexican authorities have made progress in the investigation of the kidnapping of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada with the recent arrest of a suspect believed to be involved in the orchestrated abduction. The arrest comes as part of a broader effort to dismantle the network responsible for crimes linked to cartel activities.

According to sources close to the investigation, the suspect, whose identity has been withheld, was apprehended in an early morning raid in Culiacán. Authorities recovered weapons and documents linking the individual to the operation commanded by “El Güero Moreno.”

Further details have emerged surrounding the kidnapping incident, enhancing understanding and potentially implicating more actors within the cartel. This arrest is expected to provide substantial evidence and lead to more breakthroughs in the coming days.

Stay tuned for continuous updates on this developing story at TJGringo.com.