CIA agents in Mexico without authorisation: Sheinbaum says US pledged to respect law
Synopsis
Two CIA agents died in a remote Chihuahua mountain range after conducting an unauthorised anti-drug operation — and Mexico only found out when the bodies surfaced. President Sheinbaum's demand for answers has put US-Mexico security cooperation under its sharpest scrutiny in years, with sovereignty, bilateral protocols, and cartel strategy all in the balance.
Key Takeaways
Two CIA agents were killed on 19 April 2025 in an accident in the Chihuahua mountains during an unauthorised anti-drug operation.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the Mexican federal government had no prior knowledge of the CIA's involvement.
The US responded to a Mexican diplomatic note, pledging to respect Mexican law and the Constitution .
Mexico's Attorney General's Office has launched an investigation into the incident.
The Foreign Ministry wrote to the US Ambassador to Mexico requesting all relevant information and demanding adherence to established security protocols.
Sheinbaum stressed that no US government agents should operate in Mexico without federal authorisation.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, said the United States had pledged to respect Mexican law after it emerged that Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agents operated in the country without federal authorisation, triggering a diplomatic row between the two neighbours.
What Happened in Chihuahua
The incident dates to 19 April 2025, when two CIA agents were killed in an accident in the mountains of the northern state of Chihuahua — which borders Texas — following an anti-drug operation to dismantle a clandestine drug laboratory. Their deaths brought to light the fact that the agents had been operating without the knowledge or authorisation of the Mexican federal government.
Sheinbaum confirmed at a press conference that Washington was responding to a diplomatic note her government had sent seeking full details of the operation. She said the US response included a clear commitment to comply with Mexico's legal framework.
Point of View
But operating CIA agents without federal authorisation crosses a line that Mexican administrations of every stripe have treated as non-negotiable. Sheinbaum's careful but firm public posture — accepting the US pledge while pushing an Attorney General investigation — reflects the tightrope she must walk: maintaining the security partnership Washington demands while not appearing complicit in a breach of national sovereignty. The real question is whether this was a rogue operation or a deliberate test of how far the new administration would push back.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were CIA agents operating in Mexico without authorisation?
CIA agents participated in an anti-drug operation in the state of Chihuahua on 19 April 2025 to dismantle a clandestine drug laboratory, reportedly without the knowledge or authorisation of the Mexican federal government. The Mexican government has launched an investigation and sent a diplomatic note to Washington seeking a full explanation.
What happened to the CIA agents in Chihuahua?
Two CIA agents were killed in an accident in the Chihuahua mountains on 19 April 2025 while dismantling drug labs. Their deaths brought the unauthorised operation to public and official attention.
How has Mexico responded to the CIA operation?
President Claudia Sheinbaum said the Foreign Ministry sent a diplomatic note to the US Ambassador demanding all relevant information. Mexico's Attorney General's Office has also opened an investigation. Sheinbaum stressed that any security cooperation must go through the federal government.
What did the US say in response to Mexico's diplomatic note?
According to President Sheinbaum, the US response included a clear commitment to comply with Mexico's legal framework and Constitution. She quoted the US as stating its intention to respect Mexican law, though she added she hoped the CIA's involvement was an isolated case.
What is the significance of the Chihuahua incident for US-Mexico relations?
The incident has sparked diplomatic tensions between the two countries, as it touches on national sovereignty and established bilateral security protocols. Sheinbaum described the presence of US agents in an operation against organised crime without authorisation as 'something that should not be taken lightly,' calling it a matter of national security.
