A report by CNN revealed this Tuesday that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has implemented a “secret war” within Mexican territory, characterized by a significant increase in the lethality of its operations against drug cartels.
On March 28, an explosion in broad daylight claimed the life of Francisco Beltrán—alias “El Payín,” an alleged operative of the Sinaloa Cartel—as he drove along the Mexico-Pachuca highway shortly after arriving on a flight at the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA).
CNN revealed that this offensive is being led by the Ground Branch, the CIA’s elite paramilitary unit.
Under the administration of Donald Trump—who has designated the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations—the agency has received expanded authority to conduct direct strikes and covert operations, similar to the counterterrorism missions executed in the Middle East.
The new strategy is not limited to the organizations’ “kingpins,” but rather seeks to dismantle entire networks by systematically targeting mid-level members who serve as key components in the cartels’ criminal logistics.
In response to the information published by CNN, the Secretary of Citizen Security, Omar García Harfuch, categorically rejected any narrative “that seeks to normalize, justify, or suggest the existence of lethal, covert, or unilateral operations by foreign agencies within national territory.”
The Secretary stated that cooperation with the United States does exist—that it is important and has yielded significant results for both countries—but emphasized that “such cooperation is conducted under clear principles: respect for sovereignty, shared responsibility, mutual trust, and cooperation without subordination.”
