Mexican Official Faces Treason Charge Over Joint Operation

The case could reshape how Mexico regulates foreign agents operating on its soil.

César Jáuregui, the former attorney general of Chihuahua, could be prosecuted for treason. The allegation involves an April 19 operation to dismantle a drug lab in the municipality of Morelos. Federal prosecutors state that Jáuregui approved participation by U.S. agents in a field operation, a decision reserved for the federal government. This conduct is being examined against national security laws.

The operation resulted in the deaths of two Mexican state officials and two Americans when a vehicle in the convoy left the road and plunged into a ravine. The Mexican victims were identified as Pedro Román Oseguera Cervantes, first commander of the state investigation agency, and officer Manuel Genaro Méndez Montes. Jáuregui stated at the time that the Americans were "instructor officers" carrying out training tasks under binational anti-drug cooperation. He described the targeted labs as "one of the largest sites found in the country where chemical drugs were produced." The operation ended without arrests because the suspects fled.

Jáuregui resigned from his post, stating he wanted to clear the way for an inquiry. He was arrested on Oct. 17 regarding state charges concerning the illegal exercise of public office. A judge ruled Thursday that those charges can proceed to trial. Federal officials subsequently added a treason charge, which carries a sentence of 5 to 40 years. Federal prosecutors are seeking an exemplary punishment to prevent situations like the U.S. removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to defense attorney Héctor Villasana.

The identities of the Americans involved remain a point of scrutiny. U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson called them "embassy personnel," while sources familiar with the matter identified them as CIA agents. Mexico's security ministry stated that one entered as a visitor and the other with a diplomatic passport, but neither had formal accreditation for operational activities. Two other U.S. agents traveling in a separate vehicle were later expelled, and President Claudia Sheinbaum said none had permission to operate in Mexico.

The treason charge faces significant skepticism regarding its viability. Samuel González, a former chief prosecutor for organized crime, noted that while Jáuregui may have failed to inform federal authorities or allowed foreign agents to carry weapons, this would not amount to treason, which he described as a wartime crime. The U.S. State Department said it is aware of and watching the case but did not link it to the CIA deaths. The case has become a flashpoint over foreign involvement in Mexican law enforcement.

The broader context involves U.S. agencies operating in Mexico. Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador limited their activities, and Sheinbaum amended the Constitution to bar field operations without express Mexican authorization. A federal judge is due to decide Saturday whether to allow the indictment.