Sheinbaum: Unauthorized presence of US officials in anti-narcotics operation must not be repeated

Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum said on Monday that her government had informed the United States in a diplomatic note that the unauthorized presence of American officials in an anti-drug operation in the northern state of Chihuahua must not be repeated, Reuters reported.

The incident came to light after two US officials, along with two Mexican officials, were killed in a car crash on April 19 following the operation. Sheinbaum said the federal government was unaware of the involvement of the US officials, who sources told Reuters were CIA officers.

"What we have conveyed (to the US) is that the federal government was not aware of the involvement of these individuals (in the operation) and we hope that this is an exception," Sheinbaum said at her daily morning press conference.

Mexico requested that "in the future, as has been done so far, our constitution and national security law be respected," Sheinbaum added, noting that the US has expressed its agreement.

On Saturday, Mexico's security cabinet said the US officials did not have formal accreditation to participate in security activities in Mexico and that one of them entered the country as a tourist.

The deaths of the two Americans have reignited tensions between the United States and Mexico over security cooperation. The presence of American personnel in anti-cartel operations is a highly sensitive issue in Mexico. Sheinbaum has long said she welcomes intelligence sharing and security cooperation, but would not accept the participation of American agents or forces in operations on Mexican soil.

In contrast, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for greater use of US military force in the fight against Mexican cartels and threatened that the US could act independently if Washington judges that Mexico is not doing enough.