The Mexican government has reported that two U.S. agents, who recently died in a car accident in the state of Chihuahua, did not have authorization to carry out operational activities within the country. The incident occurred on April 19, when a convoy returning from an operation targeting methamphetamine labs veered off a mountain road and plunged into a ravine, according to the BBC.
Mexico's Ministry of Security stated this Saturday that the individuals lacked the formal accreditation required to participate in field activities on national territory. According to immigration records cited by the Mexican government, one of the agents entered the country on a visitor visa, while the other used a diplomatic passport.
Tensions over sovereignty and the war on drugs
While U.S. media outlets have reported that the deceased were CIA officers, Washington authorities have not officially confirmed their affiliation with the intelligence agency. However, the BBC noted that various reports in the U.S. link the individuals to an expanded effort by the Donald Trump administration to combat drug trafficking in the region.
Chihuahua Attorney General César Jáuregui offered a different account during a press conference, describing the Americans as "instructor officers" from the U.S. Embassy, dedicated to training duties as part of standard exchanges with U.S. authorities. Nevertheless, the federal administration maintains a stance of rejection toward any uncoordinated operations.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has maintained a firm position regarding national sovereignty. The president asserted that while intelligence sharing with Washington does exist, "there are no joint operations on the ground or in the air."
This incident comes amid high pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to intensify the fight against drug trafficking. According to Al Jazeera, Sheinbaum has had to balance Washington's demands with an insistence on respecting Mexico's autonomy, rejecting offers for U.S.-led anti-drug operations.
The accident also claimed the lives of two members of the Chihuahua State Investigation Agency, according to the BBC. An investigation into the presence of these agents near the methamphetamine labs remains ongoing under orders from the presidency.
