On May 12 (local time), the Mexican Government and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) rejected a CNN article claiming that CIA agents were directly involved in deadly attacks targeting drug gangs in Mexico in the past year.
CNN's article quoted unnamed sources as saying that the CIA has expanded its secret operations in Mexico through its elite unit Ground Branch. According to this report, activities include direct involvement in targeted assassinations.
Mexican Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch declared on social network X that the Mexican government "resolutely rejects all information aimed at normalizing, justifying or implying the existence of deadly, secret or unilateral operations by foreign agencies on Mexican territory".
CIA spokeswoman Liz Lyons also posted on X that CNN's information is "false and sensational", and said that this article only serves as a media campaign beneficial to drug gangs and dangerous to Americans.
The presence of CIA agents in Mexico has increased tensions in bilateral relations recently.
On April 19, two US officials died in a car accident in Chihuahua state in northern Mexico after returning from a security operation to crack down on a drug lab. 3 sources said that these two were CIA officers.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that the federal government was not informed about the participation of US officials in the operation. She also asked the US side not to allow the recurrence of participation in activities without permission.
The issue of the presence of US personnel in anti-drug gang operations is a particularly sensitive topic in Mexico. Ms. Sheinbaum has repeatedly affirmed that Mexico is ready to share intelligence and cooperate in security but does not accept US agents or forces participating in activities on its territory.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for increased use of US military force to deal with Mexican drug cartels and warned that Washington could act on its own if it believes that Mexico has not done enough.
