{"id":2602180,"date":"2026-05-13T11:57:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T15:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cia-denies-reports-of-secret-cartel-war-in-mexico\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T11:59:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T15:59:11","slug":"cia-denies-reports-of-secret-cartel-war-in-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cia-denies-reports-of-secret-cartel-war-in-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"CIA denies reports of secret cartel war in Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcia-denies-reports-of-secret-cartel-war-in-mexico%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2602180&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The CIA vehemently denied a CNN report claiming it had substantially expanded covert operations in Mexico to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-calls-out-mexico-for-depriving-american-farmers-of-water-authorizes-new-retaliatory-tariff\/\" title=\"Trump Calls Out ... for Depriving American Farmers of Water, Authorizes New Retaliatory Tariff\">fight drug cartels<\/a>, including alleged involvement in assassinations. CIA spokeswoman Liz lyons called the report false and \u201csalacious,\u201d saying it endangers American lives.Mexico also pushed back: Security secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch said Mexico rejects any suggestion of lethal foreign covert or unilateral operations on its territory, while stating cooperation with the U.S. is limited to information sharing and coordination under principles of sovereignty and mutual trust.  <\/p>\n<p>The article notes that allegations of deeper U.S.role in Mexico\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-latest-anti-trump-operation-doj-and-media-deploy-same-old-russiagate-tricks\/\" title=\"\u200bIn Latest Anti-Trump Operation, DOJ And Media Deploy Same Old Russiagate Tricks\">cartel war<\/a> have circulated since early in Trump\u2019s term, including reporting that CIA intelligence supported a Mexican special forces operation that killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio \u201cEl Mencho\u201d oseguera Cervantes. CNN\u2019s newer account, the piece says, goes further by describing CIA elite Ground Branch involvement ranging from intelligence sharing to direct participation in assassinations, though <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >primarily targeting mid-level <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cartel-style-violence-spreading-in-california\/\" title=\"Cartel-Style Violence Spreading in California\">cartel figures<\/a><\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>The Central Intelligence Agency vehemently denied reports of its participation in deadly operations against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/drug-cartels\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2769\">drug cartels<\/a> in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mexico\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"322\">Mexico<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, CNN published a report alleging that the CIA had vastly expanded its operations in Mexico against drug cartels, including getting directly involved in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/assassinations\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1159\">assassinations<\/a> of cartel figures. The most notable was its alleged facilitation of a car bombing on a busy Mexican highway that killed Francisco \u201cEl Payin\u201d Beltran on March 28. CIA spokeswoman Liz Lyons denied the report in strong terms, accusing the outlet of endangering American lives.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4566107\/gunfire-breaks-out-philippine-senate-authorities-arrest-senator\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Gunfire breaks out in Philippine Senate where authorities have tried to arrest a senator<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4564997\/reza-pahlavi-trumps-messaging-on-iranian-uprising-confusing-the-hell-out-of-everyone\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Reza Pahlavi: Trump\u2019s messaging on Iranian uprising \u2018confusing the hell out of everyone\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4564336\/israel-iron-dome-system-united-arab-emirates-mike-huckabee\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Israel sent Iron Dome systems to UAE: Mike Huckabee<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE \u2013 A soldier stands guard by a charred vehicle after it was set on fire, in Cointzio, Michoac\u00e1n state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo\/Armando Solis,File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThis is false and salacious reporting that serves as nothing more than a PR campaign for the cartels and puts American lives at risk,\u201d she said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CIASpox\/status\/2054339789243949430?s=20\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CIASpox\/status\/2054339789243949430?s=20\">post<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Mexico\u2019s Secretary of Security Omar Garcia Harfuch backed the CIA\u2019s denial, issuing a statement of his own holding that Mexico City \u201ccategorically rejects any version that seeks to normalise, justify, or suggest the existence of lethal, covert, or unilateral operations by foreign agencies on national territory.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCooperation with the United States exists, is important, and has yielded relevant results for both countries; however, it is carried out under clear principles: respect for sovereignty, shared responsibility, mutual trust, and cooperation without subordination,\u201d he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/OHarfuch\/status\/2054325906945237339?s=20\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/OHarfuch\/status\/2054325906945237339?s=20\">said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Any international involvement in Mexico is limited to \u201cinformation exchange, institutional coordination, and formal mechanisms\u201d through the government.<\/p>\n<p>Expanded U.S. involvement in Mexico\u2019s war against its cartels has been alleged since shortly after Trump entered office. It was widely <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/02\/23\/us-intel-backed-operation-that-led-to-killing-of-mexican-drug-lord-00794540\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/02\/23\/us-intel-backed-operation-that-led-to-killing-of-mexican-drug-lord-00794540\">reported<\/a> that the CIA was instrumental in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-it-is-like-to-spend-christmas-in-combat\/\" title=\"What It Is Like to Spend Christmas in Combat\">providing intelligence support<\/a> to a Mexican special forces raid that killed Nemesio \u201cEl Mencho\u201d Oseguera Cervantes, the founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.<\/p>\n<p>CNN\u2019s Tuesday report went well beyond what was previously being claimed. The deadly campaign against Mexico\u2019s cartels has been spearheaded by the CIA\u2019s elite Ground Branch, and has varied from intelligence sharing to direct participation in assassinations. The deadly operations have mostly been limited to mid-level cartel members so far.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/editorials\/4551903\/trump-righteous-fight-mexican-drug-cartel-corruption\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4551903\">TRUMP\u2019S RIGHTEOUS FIGHT AGAINST MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL CORRUPTION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe lethality of their operations has been seriously ramped up,\u201d one of the people briefed on the operations told the outlet. \u201cIt\u2019s a significant expansion of the kind of thing the CIA has been willing to do inside Mexico.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The denial of participation of the CIA is also in the Mexican government\u2019s interest, given the taboo of direct U.S. intervention.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The CIA denied CNN\u2019s claims it expanded deadly cartel operations in Mexico<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2602181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26117854417053.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[7112,7362,75936,4786,5370],"class_list":["post-2602180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-cartel","tag-cia","tag-denials-2","tag-intelligence","tag-mexico"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26117854417053.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2602180"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602180\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2602184,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602180\/revisions\/2602184"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2602181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2602180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2602180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2602180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}