CIA denies reports of secret cartel war in Mexico

The Central Intelligence Agency vehemently denied reports of its participation in deadly operations against drug cartels in Mexico.

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 assassinations of cartel figures. The most notable was its alleged facilitation of a car bombing on a busy Mexican highway that killed Francisco “El Payin” Beltran on March 28. CIA spokeswoman Liz Lyons denied the report in strong terms, accusing the outlet of endangering American lives.

“This is false and salacious reporting that serves as nothing more than a PR campaign for the cartels and puts American lives at risk,” she said in a post on X.

Mexico’s Secretary of Security Omar Garcia Harfuch backed the CIA’s denial, issuing a statement of his own holding that Mexico City “categorically rejects any version that seeks to normalise, justify, or suggest