Mexico Says Dead US CIA Agents Were Not Authorized to Operate on Its Territory
Two US CIA agents died in a car crash in Mexico during an anti-drug raid, but Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum says they were not authorized to operate on Mexican territory. The incident has raised questions about US intelligence activities in Mexico.
Two US intelligence officers died in a car crash in Mexico while taking part in an anti-drug raid, according to multiple reports identifying them as CIA agents. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the agents were not authorized to operate on Mexican soil.
"There cannot be agents from any U.S. government institution operating in the Mexican field," Sheinbaum said during a morning news conference. She stressed that while Mexico works with the US on intelligence sharing, "there are no joint operations on land or in the air."
The Washington Post reported that the two Americans worked for the CIA as part of an expanded role in battling drug cartels. The CIA declined to comment on the incident.
Sheinbaum said Mexico is seeking more details about what the agents were doing in the country. The crash happened during what was described as an anti-narcotics operation, but Mexican officials say they were not informed about the US presence.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions over how the two countries coordinate their fight against powerful drug cartels that smuggle fentanyl and other drugs into the United States.
This shows tension between the US and Mexico over drug enforcement operations. If the US is running unauthorized spy missions in Mexico, it could hurt cooperation between the countries in fighting drug cartels that bring fentanyl and other drugs to American communities.
Mexico will investigate the unauthorized US operation and seek more details from Washington about the agents' activities.
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