Mexico and U.S. Deny Reports of CIA Assassination Operations
Mexico's president and the CIA rejected reports that U.S. agents carried out lethal operations against cartels, while U.S. news organizations say their reporting is accurate.
The Gateway PunditREPORT: CIA is Waging a Secret Assassination Campaign Against Mexican Cartels | The Gateway Pundit | by Ben Kew
Breitbart NewsMexico, U.S. Refute NYT, CNN Reports of Joint Assassination Operations on Mexican Soil
Al JazeeraMexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum denies reports of CIA operations against cartels
Washington TimesMexico’s Sheinbaum denies reports of CIA operations there
Overview
President Claudia Sheinbaum denied that U.S. intelligence officers carried out lethal operations on Mexican soil and called the reports "a lie," while the CIA said the coverage was false and salacious.
The reporting said the CIA facilitated a targeted assassination that killed Francisco Beltrán in March 2026 near Felipe Ángeles International Airport, prompting sharp pushback from Mexican officials.
Mexico's security secretary said cooperation with the U.S. exists but rejected lethal covert actions, and a U.S. news organization and a second outlet said they stand by their reporting.
Earlier, two CIA agents died in a car crash with Mexican investigators returning from an anti-narcotics operation in Chihuahua, and a New York court charged Sinaloa's governor with drug trafficking and weapons offenses.
Sheinbaum has emphasized Mexico's sovereignty and called for investigations, and the dispute could affect bilateral cooperation as Mexico renegotiates a free-trade agreement, officials said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a credibility and sovereignty crisis by emphasizing U.S.-Mexico tensions, prior controversies, and authoritative denials. Editorial choices—including terms like “fueling a firestorm,” linking the report to past CIA incidents and a charged governor, and stressing diplomatic pressure—collectively question the Mexican government’s control and transparency.