In brief
César Jáuregui Moreno, twice‑appointed attorney general of Chihuahua, has been charged with treason for allowing unapproved U.S. agents to join a drug‑lab raid in April. The raid is linked to the fatal crash that killed two Mexican officers and two CIA operatives. U.S. officials say the involvement was a covert drug‑trading effort, while Mexican authorities claim the act violated sovereign law. President Claudia Sheinbaum insists foreign operatives need government clearance, reflecting a tense U.S.–Mexico relationship over narcotics enforcement.
Former Chihuahua prosecutor César Jáuregui Moreno faces a treason charge after authorities claim he allowed U.S. agents to participate in a drug‑lab raid without proper Mexican authorisation.
Jáuregui served as the state attorney general from 2023 until his dismissal earlier this year. His alleged role in authorising the cross‑border operation has triggered a sharp political backlash.
The incident emerged when two U.S. agents, reportedly attached to the CIA, died in a crash in Chihuahua on 19 April along with two Mexican law‑enforcement officers. The rear‑end accident occurred after the team returned from a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory that had been raided the previous day.
Attorney General Ernestina Godoy Ramos accused Jáuregui of ignoring Mexican law and withholding critical information. She added that foreign agents are only permitted to operate on Mexican soil with explicit federal clearance.
According to claims, the U.S. operatives were “instructor officers” working under a routine exchange with the embassy. Yet U.S. media outlets report they engaged in an expanded anti‑narcotics initiative, an assertion that Mexico officials dismiss as diplomatic interference.
The former prosecutor was detained over the weekend. A hearing is set for Saturday, but a judge must first determine whether evidence suffices to proceed. Jáuregui maintains he neither directed the raid nor informed his staff of foreign participation.
In parallel, President Claudia Sheinbaum has denied U.S. offers for joint counter‑drug operations. She emphasizes that Mexico’s sovereignty must not be compromised, even amid rising pressure from Washington.
