American intelligence operatives have escalated secret military-style operations inside Mexico, directly participating in lethal strikes against drug cartel members in what represents a significant expansion of covert activity south of the border, according to sources familiar with the classified operations.

Elite Unit Conducts Highway Bombing

The Central Intelligence Agency’s Ground Branch, an elite paramilitary unit, executed a car bombing operation on a highway outside Mexico City on March 28 that killed Francisco Beltran, known as El Payin, a mid-level Sinaloa Cartel operative, along with his driver. The deadly strike marks a shift from traditional intelligence gathering to direct action missions inside Mexican territory. One source briefed on the campaign told reporters the lethality of CIA operations has been seriously ramped up, calling it a significant expansion of what the agency has been willing to do inside Mexico.

Presidential Authorization Drives Campaign

The expanded operations followed President Donald Trump’s official designation of major Mexican drug cartels, including the Sinaloa and Jalisco organizations, as foreign terrorist organizations. This classification provided legal authority for more aggressive military-style operations against cartel leadership and infrastructure. Multiple sources confirmed the Ground Branch unit has participated in a series of operations beyond the March highway attack, though specific details remain classified. The covert campaign represents a departure from traditional cooperation frameworks between American and Mexican law enforcement agencies.

Mexico Denies Unilateral Foreign Operations

Mexican Security Minister Omar Hamid Garcia Harfuch rejected claims that foreign agencies are conducting unilateral lethal operations on Mexican soil. In a statement, he emphasized that all cooperation with American authorities flows through institutional channels and respects national sovereignty. Garcia Harfuch stressed that operational actions inside Mexico are carried out exclusively by Mexican security forces. He said bilateral cooperation focuses on intelligence sharing, coordination, and formal mechanisms under government oversight rather than independent American military strikes.

Intelligence Agencies Remain Silent

The Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment on the reported operations when contacted by media outlets. Mexican federal agencies similarly provided no response to inquiries about the alleged American strikes within their borders. The silence from both governments leaves significant questions unanswered about the scope, legal framework, and future trajectory of these covert operations. The lack of official acknowledgment follows standard intelligence community practice of neither confirming nor denying classified operational details, even when information becomes public through other channels.