U.S. Officials Killed In Mexico Crash Worked For CIA, Sources Tell AP
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two U.S. officials died in a vehicle accident The men who returned after destroying a secret drug laboratory in northern Mexico over the weekend were working for the CIA, according to a U.S. official and two other people familiar with the matter.
Two Mexican inspectors also died in the accident, which Mexican authorities said occurred while the convoy was returning from an operation to destroy criminal groups’ drug laboratories. There are inconsistencies in the information publicly released by US and Mexican officials about what happened, and experts are highlighting this increased American intervention In security operations in Mexico and throughout the region.
The CIA’s involvement was confirmed Tuesday by three people with knowledge of the crash who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters. It was previously reported by The Washington Post that US officials were working for the CIA.
The statement came after days of conflict between Mexican and U.S. officials over the role American officials played in an operation to take down a narco-laboratory in the northern state of Chihuahua.
As Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum faces extreme pressure from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, officials’ lack of clarity has reignited debate over the extent of U.S. involvement in Mexico’s security operations. bust the cartels. Trump has taken a more aggressive stance toward Latin America than any leader in recent U.S. history. Capture of Venezuelan presidentBlocking oil shipments to Cuba and Joint military operation in Ecuadorit is also a country marked by criminal violence.
Trump has repeatedly proposed taking action against Mexican cartels; This is an intervention by Sheinbaum. He said it was “unnecessary”.
CIA officers were initially identified as US embassy personnel by US Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson. He is also a former CIA employee..
The U.S. Embassy on Monday declined to say who the men were or what branch of the U.S. government they worked for, but said officials “support the efforts of Chihuahua state authorities to combat cartel operations.” The embassy, the State Department and the CIA declined to comment on the identity of reports that the CIA was involved in the operation.
Local Mexican officials initially claimed they were working with the United States on an operation, but later walked back those comments after the effort came under scrutiny from Sheinbaum.
Sheinbaum said he knew nothing of a joint operation between the Chihuahua government and the United States, despite reports that the Mexican military was involved in the raid on the laboratory.
He said at a press conference on Tuesday that he did not know whether the officials were part of the CIA, but acknowledged that government officials and the United States were “working together.”
This is a sensitive issue for the Mexican leader because walks a careful line We are working to maintain a strong relationship with the Trump administration to offset U.S. threats to intervene in cartels and tariffs, while also working to underscore Mexico’s sovereignty.
The CIA recently expanded cooperation with Mexican authorities as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to stem the flow of illegal drugs.
The presence of U.S. intelligence officials on Mexican soil has been the subject of ongoing debate, which has only intensified after Trump’s military operations in Mexico. Venezuelan And Iranian.
Sheinbaum said last year that the US was carrying out surveillance drone flights At the request of Mexico, after a series of contradictory press releases.
The latest controversy arose in January over the former Canadian athlete’s detention in Mexico. Ryan’s WeddingHe is one of the most wanted fugitives in the United States. Mexican officials claimed he surrendered at the US Embassy, while US officials described his capture as the result of a binational operation.
Mexican security analyst David Saucedo said, “There is an increase in US covert operations in Mexico under the Trump administration.” “They’re hiding because… the Mexican government has a narrative that they can’t allow the presence of armed U.S. agents; it’s a kind of violation of sovereignty. The Mexican government has always tried to hide this cooperation.”
Janetsky reported from Mexico City. AP writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
