The Central Intelligence Agency has dramatically expanded covert operations inside Mexico, directly participating in lethal strikes against cartel operatives in an unprecedented escalation of counter-narcotics efforts. The agency’s elite Ground Branch conducted a March 28 car bombing outside Mexico City that killed Sinaloa Cartel operative Francisco Beltran and his driver, marking a significant shift in American intelligence operations south of the border.

Ground Branch Takes Direct Action

Multiple sources familiar with the operations confirmed that CIA’s specialized Ground Branch unit has moved beyond intelligence gathering to direct participation in targeted killings. One source briefed on the campaign told reporters the lethality of operations has been seriously ramped up, representing a significant expansion of activities the CIA has been willing to conduct inside Mexico. The change follows President Donald Trump’s designation of major Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, effectively treating them as military targets rather than criminal enterprises.

Mexico Rejects Claims of Unilateral Operations

Mexican Security Minister Omar Hamid Garcia Harfuch forcefully rejected claims that foreign agencies are conducting unilateral lethal operations on Mexican soil. He emphasized that all cooperation with the United States occurs through institutional channels and respects national sovereignty. Garcia Harfuch stressed that operational actions within Mexico are carried out exclusively by Mexican authorities, while bilateral cooperation focuses on intelligence sharing, coordination and formal mechanisms under government oversight. The CIA declined to comment on the report, and Mexican agencies did not respond to requests for additional information.

Foreign Terrorist Designation Changes Rules

The expanded CIA campaign represents a fundamental shift in how the United States addresses cartel violence. By designating groups like the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, the Trump administration opened the door for military and intelligence operations previously reserved for groups like Al Qaeda or ISIS. This designation allows the CIA to employ tactics typically used in counterterrorism operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan, including targeted killings and paramilitary operations conducted by Ground Branch, the agency’s most elite operational unit.

Sovereignty Concerns and Regional Impact

The reported operations raise significant questions about American intelligence activities on foreign soil and the sovereignty of allied nations. While the United States has conducted covert operations in partner countries before, direct lethal action without clear host nation approval represents a potentially explosive diplomatic issue. The tension between Mexican denials of unilateral operations and reporting from American sources suggests either a breakdown in coordination or deliberate ambiguity designed to give both governments plausible deniability. The escalation comes as cartel violence continues to destabilize regions of Mexico and as fentanyl trafficking remains a top American national security concern.