• Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum rejects allegations of CIA-led assassin operations.
• The CIA denies involvement in targeted killings, describing reports as "false and salacious."
• The controversy follows reports of escalating US intelligence activities against drug cartels in Mexico.

On May 13, 2026, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected allegations that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has participated in covert operations targeting drug cartels across Mexico. She described reports from CNN and The New York Times as a "lie" and called the latter a "fiction the size of the universe" during a press conference, emphasizing the narrative that foreign agents could operate without Mexican government permission is unacceptable. Both she and the CIA have vehemently refuted claims of direct US involvement in lethal actions within the country, according to Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.

Reports from CNN indicated that CIA operatives had supposedly been involved in targeting operations against cartels in Mexico, allegedly leading to the death of Francisco Beltran, a mid-level member of the Sinaloa Cartel. These reports suggest that CIA interventions include both intelligence support and direct participation in operations against cartels. Despite the gravity of these assertions, Mexican officials maintain that any lawful cooperation with the US must respect national sovereignty. Mexican Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch echoed similar sentiments, asserting the government "categorically rejects" any reports implicating foreign agencies in unlawful operations, as noted by India Times and Al Jazeera.

President Sheinbaum's strong denunciation follows escalating tensions regarding US operations in the region, particularly against drug trafficking networks. Despite the CIA's denial of participating in these activities, sources claim that covert activities have been intensifying, mirroring counter-terrorism tactics used in the Middle East. The White House, led by President Donald Trump, has engaged in a robust campaign against Latin American drug cartels since his tenure began, further complicating US-Mexico relations, according to Los Angeles Times and India Times.