Mexico requests information on death of 2 US officials after drug raid

Jorge Antonio Gonzalez Rocha

The Mexican government has requested information from the US on two of US embassy officials who died shortly after an anti-drug operation, said President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday.

On Sunday afternoon, two officials assigned to the US Embassy in Mexico died along with the director of the State Investigations Agency (AEI) and another Mexican agent after an operation in Chihuahua, northwestern Mexico.

“We were not aware of it. It was a decision by the government of Chihuahua,” Sheinbaum told a press conference.

“We had no knowledge of any direct collaboration between the state of Chihuahua and personnel from the US Embassy in Mexico.”

The operation took place in a small community called El Pinal, in the mountains of Chihuahua. According to state prosecutors, authorities raided laboratories at the site used to manufacture narcotics.

Afterward, the vehicle carrying the US officials along with the AEI director and the Mexican agent veered off a ravine, killing all four occupants.

“We are requesting all the information from the government of Chihuahua and also from the United States government, and reviewing whether there was any violation of national security law,” Sheinbaum added.

Cesar Jauregui Moreno, Chihuahua’s attorney general, denied that the Mexican agents were involved in the operation. He said they had visited a nearby community where they carried out drone training activities.

Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico does not conduct joint operations with the United States government on security matters.

“We are very respectful of this country’s sovereignty and of the non-intervention of any agents who are not nationals directly in these types of operations, although there is cooperation in other programs given that this is a border state,” Moreno said.