Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has strongly denied media reports alleging that Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives from the United States directly participated in deadly operations targeting drug cartels on Mexican soil.

During her morning press conference on Wednesday, Sheinbaum dismissed reports from CNN and The New York Times as "fictitious." She noted that even the CIA itself had denied the claims: "Imagine how big the lie is if the CIA itself needs to come out and dismiss it." She called the New York Times article a "fiction the size of the universe."

This marked the highest-level rejection from the Mexican government since the allegations surfaced on Tuesday. Sheinbaum continues to insist that US law enforcement officials do not directly participate in operations on Mexican territory, despite reports suggesting otherwise.

On Tuesday, CNN cited anonymous sources claiming the CIA had conducted an "expanded and previously unreported" campaign against cartels in Mexico, including direct involvement in targeted assassinations. The report pointed to a March 2026 explosion that killed Francisco Beltran, a member of the Sinaloa Cartel, and his driver.

Mexico's security laws require foreign operatives to obtain permission from the federal government to operate in the country. However, CNN's reporting suggested that some alleged CIA activities may not have been coordinated with Mexico's government.

While Sheinbaum's administration acknowledges sharing intelligence with the US, it has rejected any prospect of US forces operating without permission on Mexican territory. Mexico's Security Secretary Omar Harfuch also called the CNN report inaccurate, stating: "The Government of Mexico categorically rejects any narrative that seeks to normalize, justify, or suggest the existence of lethal, covert, or unilateral operations by foreign agencies within national territory."

CNN has stood by its reporting. This incident is the latest in a series of rumors about covert US operations in Mexico. Since President Donald Trump took office for a second term in 2025, he has sought to exert influence over Mexico's policies on crime, border enforcement, and drug trafficking, threatening unilateral action against cartels. Sheinbaum has consistently opposed such moves as violations of national sovereignty.

Source: www.aljazeera.com