Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has ordered an investigation into the role played by two US officials in a counter-narcotics operation in the northern state of Chihuahua. The two died alongside two Mexican officials when their car crashed while returning from an operation aimed at destroying illegal drug labs.
Sheinbaum stated that neither she nor senior members of the federal security team were informed about any joint US-Mexican operations, emphasizing that foreign officials can only operate in Mexico with prior clearance at the federal level.
The Mexican leader has faced pressure from her US counterpart, Donald Trump, to enhance efforts to curb the flow of drugs into the United States, while insisting that Mexico's sovereignty must be respected. She reiterated that her government was unaware of any direct collaboration between Chihuahua state authorities and US embassy personnel.
The car crash occurred on Sunday morning when the vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a ravine, leading to a fire. US Ambassador in Mexico, Ronald Johnson, identified the deceased as embassy personnel, while Chihuahua State Attorney-General César Jáuregui described them as 'instructor officers' involved in training work related to drug lab operations.
Following the incident, the governor has ordered an examination of whether the operation breached Mexican law, which prohibits unauthorized joint actions. Sheinbaum clarified that her government cooperates with the US but does not engage in joint ground or air operations.
On Monday, reports surfaced from the Washington Post suggesting that the deceased US officials were affiliated with the CIA, reflecting the agency's increased role in combatting drug trafficking activities in the Western Hemisphere. This was substantiated by previous investigations indicating that the CIA has been involved in covert operations in Mexico seeking to capture top drug traffickers.
The situation calls for a careful assessment of the legal implications surrounding foreign operations in Mexico and continues to highlight the challenges both nations face in the ongoing battle against drug-related crime.
Sheinbaum stated that neither she nor senior members of the federal security team were informed about any joint US-Mexican operations, emphasizing that foreign officials can only operate in Mexico with prior clearance at the federal level.
The Mexican leader has faced pressure from her US counterpart, Donald Trump, to enhance efforts to curb the flow of drugs into the United States, while insisting that Mexico's sovereignty must be respected. She reiterated that her government was unaware of any direct collaboration between Chihuahua state authorities and US embassy personnel.
The car crash occurred on Sunday morning when the vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a ravine, leading to a fire. US Ambassador in Mexico, Ronald Johnson, identified the deceased as embassy personnel, while Chihuahua State Attorney-General César Jáuregui described them as 'instructor officers' involved in training work related to drug lab operations.
Following the incident, the governor has ordered an examination of whether the operation breached Mexican law, which prohibits unauthorized joint actions. Sheinbaum clarified that her government cooperates with the US but does not engage in joint ground or air operations.
On Monday, reports surfaced from the Washington Post suggesting that the deceased US officials were affiliated with the CIA, reflecting the agency's increased role in combatting drug trafficking activities in the Western Hemisphere. This was substantiated by previous investigations indicating that the CIA has been involved in covert operations in Mexico seeking to capture top drug traffickers.
The situation calls for a careful assessment of the legal implications surrounding foreign operations in Mexico and continues to highlight the challenges both nations face in the ongoing battle against drug-related crime.
