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US and Mexican authorities have engaged in a clandestine joint operation against the Sinaloa Cartel, according to a report by CNN. The operation, reportedly carried out by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officers in collaboration with Mexican forces, involved a car bombing that led to the death of Sinaloa Cartel operative Francisco “El Payin” Beltrán on March 28 near Mexico City. Beltrán and his driver were killed instantly when the explosive device hidden inside their vehicle detonated.
The Mexican government has maintained secret details about the attack, which is said to be part of the CIA’s Ground Branch’s covert campaign to disrupt the operational networks of cartel groups. Since 2022, CIA operatives have been involved in high-profile operations targeting mid-level cartel members in Mexico. This strategy of dismantling cartel networks is not novel; it is closely aligned with counterterrorism approaches used in the Middle East, which focus on targeting not only senior members but also crucial operatives who facilitate the supply chain.
Details regarding direct coordination between the CIA and Mexico’s government are unclear. According to a source, it is uncertain if the CIA’s covert missions in Mexico are consistently approved by the Mexican government. The clandestine operations have increased significantly since the previous year, with an estimated number of deadly attacks on cartel members having occurred.
The involvement of the CIA in covert operations within Mexico raises questions about the extent of the relationship between the two sides. A long-standing US policy aims to limit CIA activities to supporting partner governments in international military efforts and law enforcement activities. However, US government agencies often push the boundaries of the permissible limits, with US presidents granting special executive powers to the CIA, such as authorizing drone strikes.
The US government continues to justify the CIA’s involvement as an urgent measure to combat the rising threat of organized crime in the region, with Sinaloa Cartel being one of Mexico’s most formidable criminal organizations.