Kamal Ghorui
Mexican president says she was not aware of any joint operation with US officials after two US men were killed in a car crash in Chihuahua
After two US officials were killed in a crash in Chihuahua, the largest state in Mexico, president Claudia Sheinbaum said she had no idea what operation they were involved in as she was not informed. According to reports, it was a covert operation in northern Chihuahua to destroy a clandestine drug lab and Mexican officials were also part of it. But neither did the US government identify the two killed in the crash, nor did the Mexican government offer any details. Instead, Sheinbaum denied any knowledge of any joint operation.“It was not an operation that the security cabinet was aware of,” Sheinbaum told journalists. “We were not informed; it was a decision by the Chihuahua government.”Sheinbaum said her government would investigate the incident to ensure no laws were broken after the deaths on Sunday, adding that state governments must have authorization from Mexico’s federal government to collaborate with US and other foreign entities “as established by the Constitution.”
CIA officials killed in Chihuahua crash?
Chihuahua Attorney General César Jáuregui said four officials died as their car skidded and fell into a ravine. They were driving in the middle of the night through rugged mountain territory connecting Chihuahua to Sinaloa as they were returning from the operation to destroy labs of criminal groups.In a news release, the state attorney general’s office identified two of the crash victims as first commander of the state investigation agency Pedro Román Oseguera Cervantes and officer Manuel Genaro Méndez Montes. But the names of the US officials have not been disclosed. New York Times said they were CIA members.US ambassador Ronald Johnson acknowledged the death of two US officials and posted a message of condolence on social media. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two US Embassy personnel, the Director of Chihuahua’s State Investigation Agency (AEI), and an AEI officer in this accident. We honor their dedication and tireless efforts to confront one of the greatest challenges of our time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones,” he said.“This tragedy is a solemn reminder of the risks faced by those Mexican and US officials who are dedicated to protecting our communities. It strengthens our resolve to continue their mission and advance our shared commitment to security and justice, to protect our people,” he added.But as a controversy started to gain ground on whether US officials were conducting an operation on Mexican soil, local officials said there were no US agents in the operation and that US officials joined the group after the operation and were several hours away from where the action took place.
