President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that a Reuters investigation details the close participation of the United States Central Intelligence Agency in the fight against drugs in Mexico was false.
Reuters said that Sheinbaum’s comments misrepresented the report and that the news agency supports the article.
The history, published on Wednesday, revealed that the CIA has carried out covert operations in Mexico for years to help track the most wanted drug traffickers in the country, working with elite units within the Mexican army and navy that receive training from the agency, equipment, surveillance assistance and financial support for activities such as trips.
You may be interested: Sheinbaum asks Mexicans to ‘caution’ in the US before
When consulted on Reuters research at his morning press conference, Sheinbaum said there was “cooperation and coordination in information” between the governments of the United States and Mexico to combat drug cartels, not specifically mentioning the CIA.
However, he also questioned a point that was not mentioned in the Reuters report, stating: “It is said that there are CIA agents working with the Mexican army in operations. It is absolutely false, it is not true.”
A news agency spokesman said: “Reuters maintains its report from the beginning of this week on the secret role of the CIA in fighting the drug cartels of Mexico, which was badly characterized by the Mexican government.”
The report, based on interviews with more than 60 US and Mexican officials, both active and retired, states that the CIA operates in the country at the discretion of the Mexican government. Mexico authorizes all capture operations, adds the report, and uses Mexican forces, not American personnel, to execute them.
Friday’s statements on Friday were his first comment on the report. Before publication, neither its office nor the Mexican army responded to the multiple requests for comments nor to the detailed questions sent by Reuters for the article.
The Secretary of the Navy said in a response included in the report that “maintains exchange of knowledge and cooperation with armed, maritime forces and other agencies from various countries”, to strengthen operational capacities and regional security collaboration.
With Reuters information
Inspy, discover and share. Follow us and find what you are looking for on our Instagram!
