Former Chihuahua Prosecutor Arrested for Alleged CIA Collaboration
César Jáuregui Moreno, the former State Prosecutor of Chihuahua, was arrested on Saturday morning for allegedly allowing CIA officers to operate in the region without proper authorization. This arrest comes in the wake of a tragic incident in mid-April 2026, when two CIA officers and two Mexican security agents died in a rollover car accident while returning from an operation aimed at dismantling several drug labs linked to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The Attorney General's Office (FGR) has accused Jáuregui of treason, claiming he collaborated with the CIA, although formal charges have yet to be filed. The arrest took place at the intersection of La Cantera Avenue and Periférico de la Juventud in Chihuahua. Governor María Eugenia Campos Galván has indicated that there are ongoing investigations against Jáuregui in both the State Attorney General's Office (FGE) and the FGR, describing his actions as something that "cannot be forgiven."
The incident that led to the arrests involved the deaths of two CIA officers, identified as John Dudley Black and Richard Leiter Johnston III, who were reportedly operating without CIA credentials in Mexico. Following the accident, two other CIA officers were expelled from the country. President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that the CIA officers had entered Mexico legally but lacked the necessary accreditation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in security operations.
Details of the Operation and Aftermath
The convoy of U.S. and Mexican officials was returning from an operation where they had successfully shut down six synthetic drug labs. The accident occurred in rugged mountain terrain, leading to speculation about the circumstances surrounding the crash. The FGR has indicated that there may have been unauthorized collaboration between state officials and U.S. agents, which raises significant legal and sovereignty concerns.
Filed & Cleared
In response to the incident, President Sheinbaum has stated that her office was unaware of the collaboration between state officials and the U.S. government, emphasizing that such operations require federal authorization. Following the accident, the governor of Chihuahua ordered the establishment of a unit to investigate the case further. The political fallout from these events has led to increased scrutiny of the relationship between U.S. intelligence agencies and Mexican authorities.
As investigations continue, the implications of this case could have far-reaching effects on U.S.-Mexico relations and the operational protocols of intelligence agencies in the region. The situation remains fluid, with further developments expected as more information comes to light.
