Two CIA Officers Die in Mexico Plane Crash After Drug Lab Raid

Two Americans who reportedly worked for the CIA died in a car crash after a Mexican-led operation to destroy a drug lab. The crash occurred on Sunday as they returned from a raid on a clandestine drug lab in northern Chihuahua state. The incident also resulted in the deaths of two Mexican investigators.

The confirmation came on Tuesday from a U.S. official and two individuals familiar with the matter, who spoke anonymously. Mexican local authorities initially described the operation as joint with U.S. personnel but later retracted those statements.

The U.S. Embassy stated that the Americans were supporting Chihuahua state authorities in combating cartel operations but did not identify their agency.

and Investigation Mexican President Sheinbaum

maintained in her Tuesday press briefing that she was unaware if the officials were CIA but conceded that state authorities and the U.S. were working together. She maintained this position while facing pressure from the Trump administration to intensify crackdowns on criminal organizations.

Mexico has launched an investigation into a possible breach of its constitution and to assess the U.S. role in the anti-drug operation. The two Americans were killed on Sunday when their vehicle crashed while returning from a counter-cartel operation led by Mexico’s armed forces in Chihuahua.

The lack of transparency has raised questions about the extent of U.S. involvement in Mexico's fight against cartels. The U.S. Embassy and the CIA offered no further comment on the reports of the officials' affiliation.

The CIA has expanded collaborative efforts with Mexican authorities, aligning with the Trump administration’s strategy to curb illicit drug flows. Last year, President Sheinbaum confirmed that U.S. drone surveillance flights over Mexican territory were conducted at her request.