Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government would demand a full explanation following the deaths of US and Mexican officials after an operation in the northern state of Chihuahua, warning that any unauthorised collaboration with foreign entities would violate Mexican law.
The officials died in a crash over the weekend after an operation targeting a clandestine drug laboratory in a rural area, reigniting debate over the extent of US involvement in Mexico’s internal security operations.
“It was not an operation that the security cabinet was aware of,” Sheinbaum said. “We were not informed; it was a decision by the Chihuahua government.”
She added that her administration would investigate the incident to determine whether constitutional provisions were breached, stressing that state authorities must obtain federal approval before engaging with foreign governments on security matters.
Chihuahua Attorney General César Jáuregui said the crash occurred as officials returned from the operation, which involved dismantling drug labs linked to criminal groups. He said the vehicle was travelling overnight through mountainous terrain between Chihuahua and Sinaloa when it appeared to skid, fall into a ravine and explode.
According to Jáuregui, those killed included two Mexican investigative officials and two US Embassy instructors who had been participating in what he described as routine training activities.
The United States Embassy in Mexico declined to identify the deceased officials or their agency affiliations, stating only that they had been supporting Chihuahua authorities in efforts to combat cartel operations. US Ambassador Ronald Johnson expressed condolences but provided limited additional details.
Conflicting accounts from officials deepened uncertainty around the incident. Jáuregui initially indicated coordination between state prosecutors and Mexico’s federal military, suggesting some level of federal involvement. Hours later, Mexico’s Security Cabinet confirmed that the army and state prosecutors had jointly dismantled drug labs in the same area, Morelos, after locating them with drones.
However, the state official later clarified that no US agents were present during the actual operation to secure the site, stating that embassy personnel joined after the operation and were located several hours away.
Sheinbaum maintained that there are no joint US-Mexico combat operations conducted on Mexican soil or in its airspace, emphasising that cooperation is limited to intelligence sharing within a defined legal framework.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Mexico and the United States, as US President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Mexico to intensify action against drug cartels. Sheinbaum has repeatedly rejected suggestions of direct US intervention, describing such proposals as unnecessary and underscoring Mexico’s sovereignty.
US involvement in Mexican security matters has long been sensitive, with training programmes for Mexican forces widely accepted but direct operational roles remaining controversial. The issue has drawn renewed scrutiny following recent US military actions in other regions.
Previous disputes have also highlighted discrepancies in official accounts, including the detention of Canadian fugitive Ryan Wedding, where US and Mexican authorities offered differing versions of how the arrest was carried out.
The latest incident occurs at a critical moment in bilateral relations, as both countries prepare for a new round of negotiations on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The US delegation, led by Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, was scheduled to meet Mexican officials in Mexico City.
On the same day, Washington announced visa restrictions targeting relatives of members of the Sinaloa cartel, further signalling an intensification of its crackdown on organised crime networks linked to Mexico.
Erizia Rubyjeana
