Mexico, CIA reject report of US assassination campaign against cartels

"CIA spokesperson Liz Lyons said the CNN report was false and salacious and serves as nothing more than a PR campaign for the cartels and puts American lives at risk."

"Mexico's Secretary of Security Omar Garcia Harfuch also challenged the report, saying the government categorically rejects any version that seeks to normalise, justify, or suggest the existence of lethal, covert, or unilateral operations by foreign agencies on national territory."

"Cooperation with the United States exists, is important, and has yielded relevant results for both countries, Harfuch said in a post on X. However, it is carried out under clear principles: respect for sovereignty, shared responsibility, mutual trust, and cooperation without subordination."

"CIA operatives have directly participated in several attacks on drug trafficking syndicates since last year, including a car explosion in March that killed Francisco Beltran, an alleged member of the Sinaloa Cartel, CNN reported, citing multiple unnamed sources."

Mexico’s government and the CIA denied a report alleging CIA involvement in targeted assassinations of alleged cartel members in Mexico. The report claimed CIA operatives participated in attacks on drug trafficking syndicates, including a March car explosion that killed Francisco Beltran, and that involvement ranged from intelligence sharing to direct participation in assassination operations. The CIA spokesperson said the report was false and sensational and that it endangers American lives. Mexico’s Secretary of Security said the government rejects any narrative that normalizes or justifies lethal covert or unilateral foreign operations on national territory. He said cooperation with the United States is important and produces results, but must follow principles of sovereignty, shared responsibility, mutual trust, and cooperation without subordination.

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