The Mexican state of Chihuahua includes the letters “CIA” in its spelling.
The recent and mysterious deaths of two CIA agents in a purported car accident on a perilous mountain road in Chihuahua, Mexico, have ignited a diplomatic crisis between the Claudia Sheinbaum-led government and the Trump administration. This incident has also created a standoff between federal authorities and the state government of Chihuahua, which is aligned with the right-wing National Action Party (PAN).
According to journalist Ioan Grillo, the CIA agents—numbering between two and four—were reportedly aiding the State Investigation Agency (AEI) of Chihuahua in dismantling a network of large-scale synthetic drug labs. Chihuahua’s attorney general, César Jáuregui, described this operation as “one of the biggest seizures in the nation”:
Operated by a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, these labs held dozens of barrels containing various powders and liquids, along with ovens and gas cylinders capable of producing crystal meth. Security forces located these facilities using surveillance drones, Jáuregui reported.
While returning to Chihuahua City, a vehicle from their convoy veered off a narrow mountain road, plunging into a ravine. The four individuals inside—a director and an officer from AEI, along with two CIA agents—did not survive. This tragic incident has raised numerous questions concerning the CIA’s role in Mexico and possible violations of national security laws.
Significantly, many inquiries remain unanswered regarding the CIA’s involvement in this operation and its implications for U.S.-Mexico cooperation in combating narcotics.
President Claudia Sheinbaum asserts that her administration was not informed of the CIA agents’ direct engagement. If this holds true, it constitutes a blatant breach of Mexico’s constitution and sovereignty. Alarmingly, it appears to be at least the third instance of CIA agents collaborating with Chihuahua authorities on drug trafficking operations, as reported by the LA Times.
A Mexican media source relayed that U.S. contacts informed them that Washington intentionally excluded Sheinbaum’s government, executing secret operations with full awareness that it contravened Mexican law.
If true, such allegations could significantly strain U.S.-Mexico relations. https://t.co/ntXhvcKDWD— José Luis Granados Ceja (@GranadosCeja) April 22, 2026
Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) faced disdain from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) due to his strict restrictions on U.S. agencies, including the DEA and CIA, operating within Mexico. It was widely reported that the DEA retaliated with damaging allegations against AMLO during the critical 2024 presidential elections.
AMLO’s 2020 updates to Articles 70 and 71 of the National Security Law categorically prevent foreign agents from operating in Mexico without prior knowledge from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Security and Citizen Protection. Moreover, all branches of government that interact with foreign agents must receive authorization from the federal security cabinet, which oversees reporting on any meetings or interactions.
It appears, however, that these protocols were not followed in this instance. Sheinbaum affirmed that federal authorities were kept unaware of this operation, along with any other activities conducted by the CIA or other U.S. agencies in the region.
President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that the federal government was not informed about CIA officers’ involvement in operations aimed at a drug lab in northern Mexico, demanding explanations from the U.S. ambassador and state officials. pic.twitter.com/pnCpfmjbmb
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 22, 2026
Sheinbaum declared, “There are no joint operations on the ground or in the air involving Mexican and U.S. forces.” She emphasized that there is merely an exchange of information between both governments, facilitated within a “well-established” legal framework.
Michael McCaul, the Republican chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, contradicted Sheinbaum, insisting it is implausible for her not to be aware of the CIA’s role in the operation. However, acknowledging such ignorance would imply admitting that the CIA knowingly violated Mexican laws and sovereignty.
🚨Republican @RepMcCaul answered “NO” when I asked whether there was any way President Sheinbaum was unaware of CIA operations on Mexican soil.
McCaul: “There may be political rhetoric heard, but underneath all the rhetoric is deep… pic.twitter.com/WQPCzsoWU6
— Stephanie Ochoa 🇲🇽🇺🇸 (@StefyOchoa) April 24, 2026
Amid ongoing uncertainties regarding the narrative provided by her government, Mexico’s political stability is potentially further compromised. Political destabilization is a tactic frequently associated with the CIA.
An editorial in the pro-government La Jornada highlights the growing doubts surrounding the extent of U.S. espionage and interference in Mexico, as well as the possible complicity of the Chihuahua state government:
Initially, attorney general César Jáuregui Moreno aligned with U.S. ambassador Ronald Johnson, stating the deceased were “attached” officers returning from a mission involving the dismantling of six drug laboratories when their vehicle fell into a ravine. However, the following day, Jáuregui altered his narrative significantly, claiming that the operation had occurred two days prior, without U.S. agents involved, and that U.S. embassy officials requested a ride to Chihuahua City for a 10 a.m. flight, resulting in the fatal accident.
This second version was quickly dismissed when The Washington Post confirmed that the deceased were indeed CIA operatives involved in the raid, part of the broader conflict against drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere, as promoted by the Trump administration.
Reports have surfaced indicating that members of the Mexican military assisted during the raid, raising speculations that the Secretariat of National Defence (Sedena) may have been aware of the operation but chose not to inform the federal government. It has also come to light that the CIA agents disguised themselves as Mexican state police officers, effectively masking their true identities.
Additionally, the head of the Chihuahua police force revealed that Governor Maru Campos Galván has extended invitations not just to the CIA but also to the FBI, DEA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Border Patrol, allowing these agencies not only to exchange information but also to maintain a “permanent presence” in the state:
According to La Jornada, the design of an entire floor in the Sentinel Tower, the Chihuahua public security headquarters in Ciudad Juárez, is meant to house agents from various U.S. agencies such as the DEA, FBI, and Customs and Border Protection. Officials have confirmed that these analysts and technical personnel will work alongside Mexican authorities to foster ongoing cooperation.
The Mexican government contends that no such authorization existed. Conversely, Washington maintains that its increasing agency presence aligns with an endorsed agenda of “cooperation and collaboration” with Mexico.
As the editorial in La Jornada points out, these events unfold amidst “permanent threats from Donald Trump and his administration,” who seek permission from Sheinbaum for military action against Mexico’s drug cartels. As Trump pushes for deeper involvement, Sheinbaum finds herself in the precarious position of needing to appease him while safeguarding Mexican sovereignty.
This incident also arrives during renegotiations of the USMCA trade agreement, with Trump exerting as much leverage as possible for U.S. benefit. Concurrently, Mexico strives to uphold its support of Cuba, dealing with Trump’s escalating threats against the island, just after Sheinbaum met with progressive leaders including Spain’s Pedro Sánchez in Barcelona.
🚨🇲🇽🇪🇸 MEXICO JUST REACHED OVER WASHINGTON’S HEAD.
Claudia Sheinbaum’s meeting with Pedro Sánchez marked the first presidential visit to Spain in eight years, asserting that no permission or blessing is required—just two nations determining the nature of their relationship.
“The empire isn’t in the… pic.twitter.com/wBpMdBRBJy
The editorial in La Jornada concludes with the necessity to investigate the validity of claims made by U.S. media, assign accountability to Prosecutor Jáuregui and Governor Campos, and critically reassess security cooperation with Washington.
The Sheinbaum administration has already summoned Governor Campos to testify before Mexico’s Senate on the circumstances that allowed CIA agents to operate within her jurisdiction. There are also calls for her to face treason charges, an action that seems justified but is unlikely, given the inherently cautious approach of Sheinbaum’s government.
U.S. journalist Kurt Hackbarth remarked that the U.S. appears to be conspiring with opposition governors to infiltrate Mexico with CIA agents under the guise of narcotics operations, which could warrant the expulsion of the U.S. ambassador.
While this expulsion seems improbable, the acceptance of the Chihuahua attorney general’s version of events by Mexico’s Security Secretary, Omar García Harfuch, adds further confusion to the situation, as highlighted by analyst Ioan Grillo:
Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch endorses the Chihuahua AG’s assertion that CIA agents did not participate in the raid on the meth lab. This stance prevents the Mexican government from confronting the U.S. regarding violations of Mexican national security law. https://t.co/zx8CSYRqIL
Experts warn that the Mexican government should remain “extremely cautious” regarding any efforts by the CIA to expand its presence, as noted by veteran journalist Lorenzo Meyer. One of the CIA’s enduring roles is destabilizing foreign governments that do not align with U.S. interests, evidenced by past coups in Guatemala (1954) and Chile (1973).
Trump’s Representative in Mexico
Readers might recall that the Trump administration’s selection for U.S. ambassador to Mexico, retired Colonel Ronald D. Johnson, has deep ties with the CIA. Johnson is a former CIA officer and Green Beret who has completed missions in challenging environments, including El Salvador’s brutal civil war.
Throughout his career at the CIA, Johnson appeared in contentious settings like Panama (during the U.S. invasion) and Yugoslavia. He previously served as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump’s first term, forging close relationships with the country’s authoritarian president, Nayib Bukele, and holding significant roles within the CIA’s Southern Command.
In response to Johnson’s confirmation, Hackbarth remarked that while the previous ambassador was viewed as meddlesome, Johnson represents a more aggressive approach. He recounted the chilling activities carried out by Salvadoran military forces under U.S. guidance during the 1980s:
The designated ambassador, Ron Johnson “led combat operations in El Salvador… during the civil war of the 1980s.” Here is what the death squads he “advised” did. ⚠️GRAPHIC CONTENThttps://t.co/zp2uMgsK0W pic.twitter.com/i5CoEIGNkv
Rather than showing remorse for infringing Mexican law or breaching sovereignty, the Trump administration has taken a defensive stance. In a Fox News interview, Karoline Leavitt criticized Sheinbaum for her perceived lack of empathy towards the two CIA agents killed while unlawfully operating within Mexico:
“Given all that the United States is currently doing to combat the drug trafficking scourge coming from Mexico, we have seen some collaboration from President Sheinbaum. Nevertheless, her cooperation could be greater.”
🚨 HOLY CRAP! Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is being criticized for not expressing gratitude or sympathy for our two American agents who died in her country while engaging with cartel operations.
Sheinbaum = CARTEL CONTROLLED.
KAROLINE LEAVITT: “I think the president would agree that… pic.twitter.com/AD7F6eB3oh
First, the assertion that Sheinbaum neglected to convey regret for the CIA agent’s deaths is demonstrably inaccurate:
In response to the tragic loss of two U.S. officials in Chihuahua, President @Claudiashein stated:
“First and foremost, we deeply regret the loss of life. Regardless of any circumstances, the human aspect comes first. We extend our full solidarity and support from the… pic.twitter.com/U9p0ckbb9I
Secondly, claims that U.S. forces are primarily targeting Mexico and Latin America to combat drug trafficking can be misleading. While collaboration between Washington and Mexico has facilitated arrests of cartel leaders, it is crucial to recognize that the CIA’s primary goal is not to eliminate the drug trade but rather to destabilize governments and facilitate U.S. hegemony. In fact, the agency has long been implicated in fostering drug trafficking globally, often to serve U.S. interests.
Historically, CIA agents were allegedly complicit in the Guadalajara cartel’s abduction and murder of DEA agent Kiki Camarena, documented in the bestselling book, The CIA, Camarena and Caro Quintero by Jesús Esquivel. Similarly, U.S. influence in Afghanistan has been deeply entwined with the opiate trade.
Geopolitics, Profit, and Poppies: How the CIA Turned Afghanistan into a Failed Narco-State – uncover how the CIA fostered a massive opioid epidemic across South Asia in my investigation for @MintPressNews: https://t.co/RmUWaXAT5a
While I was investigating poppy production in Afghanistan, a farmer disclosed that U.S. personnel had encouraged him to grow opium in exchange for information.
When he recounted this, the discussion abruptly ended.
As previously argued, while drug cartels present a serious concern for both the U.S. and Latin America, the escalating war waged by the U.S. against these cartels often serves as a pretext for broader geopolitical domination—an agenda now being executed across the region.
To justify military actions against Venezuela, the Trump administration exaggerated President Nicolás Maduro’s alleged drug trafficking links alleged by the CIA-invented Cartel de los Soles. Yet, once the CIA achieved its objectives and facilitated Maduro’s ousting, the focus swiftly shifted from drug trafficking to exploiting Venezuela’s resources, excluding influences from nations like China, Russia, and Cuba.
Few nations have endured as much U.S. interference as Mexico, with records indicating that the U.S. has violated Mexican sovereignty—a staggering thirteen times—since the nation’s founding in 1810. The recent establishment of the largest U.S. embassy facility outside Washington, D.C., signifies an extensive CIA presence in Mexico, further complicating the landscape for Sheinbaum’s administration.
Given the significant power disparities in U.S.-Mexico relations, the Mexican president may find it ill-advised to take strong measures against Washington, like expelling Ambassador Johnson. However, an example might be made of Governor Mora, who is reportedly avoiding contact with Sheinbaum. The leaders of Mora’s party continue to uphold her actions as commendable in their quest against drug cartels, presenting a precarious dynamic.
With the CIA forging alliances with state officials, the Sheinbaum administration faces a critical turning point. Leaders of Mexico’s main opposition parties, PAN and PRI, have historically shown a propensity to capitulate to U.S. interests and evidently advocate for intensified military interventions to dismantle the MORENA party’s left-leaning influence.
