Mexico says alleged CIA agents 'not authorized' to operate on its soil

Mexico's government said on Saturday that two individuals from the United States who were operating in its territory as intelligence agents were not authorized to carry out their activities.

The two men were killed last weekend in connection with a drug raid and they are believed to have been members of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), according to reports in US media.

Two Mexican officials also died in the incident in the northern state of Chihuahua on April 19, which featured a multiple vehicle convoy carrying soldiers and members of the Chihuahua State Investigation Agency.

Chihuahua's state prosecutor said the group were on their way back from a raid of clandestine drug labs when their car skidded off the road and into a ravine.

The US agents who were killed were "instructor officers" who "were carrying out training tasks."

Cooperation between US law enforcement and Mexican security forces within Mexico is historically rare and a politically sensitive topic in the country.

US citizens entered as tourist and diplomat — ministry

The incident could create fresh diplomatic friction between the the two neighboring nations, as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum already faces pressure to manage a delicate relationship with the US amid President Donald Trump's demands that Mexico act more aggressively towards drug cartels.

Mexico's Security Ministry said in a statement that immigration records showed one of the two agents entered the country as a "visitor" while the other used a "diplomatic passport."

The ministry said Mexican law forbids foreign agents from participating in operations on Mexico's soil.

"Neither had formal accreditation to participate in operational activities within national territory," the statement said.

The two US citizens have not been identified, but the US ambassador in Mexico has said they were US embassy employees.

Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah