In brief
The former attorney general of Chihuahua, César Jáuregui Moreno, faces treason charges after Mexican prosecutors say he let U.S. intelligence operatives participate in a raid on a suspected meth lab without permission. The claim surfaced following a car crash that claimed two CIA agents and two Mexican officers. Jáuregui was arrested last weekend and a court hearing is set for Saturday; a judge will decide whether to proceed. Meanwhile, President Sheinbaum has warned that foreign agents may operate only with federal clearance, as the U.S. has urged a tougher stance against drug trafficking.
Mexican federal prosecutors have charged former Chihuahua attorney general César Jáuregui Moreno with treason for allegedly permitting United States CIA agents to participate in a raid on a suspected methamphetamine laboratory without proper authorization. The accusation followed the fatal crash of a convoy returning from the operation on 19 April, which killed two CIA officers and two Chihuahua state police officers.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Jáuregui’s decision to allow the foreign operatives to act in Mexican territory violated national sovereignty and the principles of lawful jurisdiction. Jáuregui denied any involvement, arguing that the agents were merely “instructor officers” from the U.S. embassy engaged in routine training exchanges.
The former prosecutor was detained over the weekend, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Saturday. A magistrate will determine whether to bring the treason case forward, while Jáuregui also faces state‑level charges of abuse of public office in Chihuahua.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has consistently insisted that any foreign law‑enforcement presence on Mexican soil must receive federal approval. She has resisted U.S. requests for joint counter‑narcotics operations, citing sovereignty concerns. The recent incident has intensified calls for clearer boundaries in cross‑border anti‑drug efforts.
For now, the legal and diplomatic implications of the raid remain unresolved. Law enforcement officials examine how the operation expanded beyond standard procedures, while the U.S. maintains it was part of a broader strategy to target regional drug trafficking networks.
