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 on their way back from an operation to destroy illegal drug labs, Chihuahua officials said.
Sheinbaum stated that neither she nor senior members of the federal security team had been informed about any joint US-Mexican operations, emphasizing that foreign officials can only operate on Mexican soil if given prior clearance at the federal level.
Facing pressure from US President Donald Trump to enhance efforts against drug trafficking, Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico's sovereignty should not be compromised.
On Monday, she remarked, we did not have knowledge of any direct work between Chihuahua state and personnel from the US embassy and called for an understanding of the circumstances that led to the crash.
According to a Chihuahua state official, the US nationals and two members of the Chihuahua State Investigation Agency (AEI) died on Sunday morning after their car skidded off the road, falling into a ravine where it exploded.
The US ambassador in Mexico, Ronald Johnson, described the deceased as US embassy personnel, while the Chihuahua State Attorney-General confirmed they were instructor officers engaged in training as part of a regular exchange with US authorities.
Sheinbaum has demanded information from both the US embassy and Chihuahua state authorities to ascertain whether the operation may have violated Mexican national security laws, which prohibit joint operations without prior federal approval.
Furthermore, reports have surfaced suggesting that the two US officials were affiliated with the CIA, which has been involved in covert operations in Mexico to tackle drug trafficking.
Last September, an investigation revealed that the CIA had been running missions in Mexico to target prominent drug traffickers, working closely with specific units within the Mexican military under official approval.
The Mexican government has been clear that while cooperation with the US exists, including intelligence sharing, no joint operations occur without rigorous oversight and prior agreements.
