MEXICO CITY — In a shocking revelation, federal prosecutors in Mexico have asserted that law enforcement, forensic experts, and state attorneys in Sinaloa collaborated to obscure the killing of a political adversary to the state’s governor. This intricate cover-up was highlighted by the presence of a blood-stained vehicle linked to the crime scene, according to statements made on Sunday by federal authorities.

This development aligns with claims made by incarcerated drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who stated in a letter that he was forcibly taken onto a plane on July 25 by a rival drug lord, who subsequently turned him over to American law enforcement. Zambada remarked that Héctor Cuén, a political opponent of the ruling-party Governor Ruben Rocha, was murdered on the same day and at the same ranch from which he was abducted. Federal prosecutors confirmed that Cuén’s blood was indeed located at that ranch.

While Governor Rocha has yet to comment on these latest assertions, he previously indicated that Cuén’s death resulted from a robbery gone wrong at a nearby gas station later that day. At that time, state prosecutors presented security footage from the site of the alleged crime. However, federal prosecutors countered, citing discrepancies: despite four gunshot wounds documented on Cuén’s body, the footage captured only one gunshot sound, and nearby gas station employees reported hearing none.

Complicating matters further, Sinaloa authorities botched the murder investigation by promptly cremating Cuén’s body, rendering it useless for any forensic analysis. Investigators later revealed that the video footage presented by the local authorities was falsified. However, the visibility of a white pickup truck in the footage led to significant findings, including traces of blood belonging to one of Zambada’s trusted bodyguards.

This prompts speculation about possible involvement of Sinaloa’s law enforcement and prosecutors in a planned cover-up, given the blood-stained vehicle was either used to dispose of the bodyguard’s remains or was taken from the crime scene to stage a fraudulent robbery. The federal Attorney General’s Office articulated on Sunday that this series of events suggests glaring investigative misconduct among state police, forensic analysts, and prosecutors in connection to Cuén’s demise.

These ongoing revelations pose additional challenges for Governor Rocha, a member of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s ruling Morena Party, who has previously maintained his alliance with the governor. However, Rocha’s inaction amidst escalating violence and turmoil stemming from disputes between rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel has raised public concern. Just hours before a firearm incident occurred at a local newspaper’s office, Rocha publicly reassured citizens that “there is nothing to worry about” and that “everything is under control.”

Governor Rocha has faced allegations of complicity related to the events of July 25, despite his denials. Zambada suggested that Joaquín Guzmán López, a leader from a competing cartel faction, had invited him to a meeting intended to resolve the political enmity between Rocha and Cuén. Historically adept in evading capture due to a highly organized security detail, Zambada made the unusual decision to limit his protection for this specific meeting, which he anticipated would include both Cuén and Rocha.

The two bodyguards accompanying Zambada have been missing since that day, casting further doubt on his safety in these political discussions. Zambada’s choice to attend a meeting without heavy security implies he believed it was a legitimate and safe opportunity for dialogue, cementing his role as a potential mediator in Sinaloa’s political landscape.

While Rocha asserts that he was unaware of the circumstances surrounding Zambada’s kidnapping, claiming he chartered a private jet to California, skepticism remains due to the absence of his immigration documents. This raises questions about his story and involvement. The growing tensions stemming from Zambada’s alleged betrayal have ignited fierce conflicts between his loyalists and the faction led by Guzmán López, co-leader of the “Chapitos,” attached to the infamous Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.