Mexico Arrests Former Chihuahua Attorney General on Treason Charge for Letting U.S. Agents Join Drug Lab Raid

Mexican federal authorities have arrested César Jáuregui, the former Chihuahua attorney general, on suspicion of treason, accusing him of allowing U.S. agents to take part in an April raid on a drug laboratory in the border state without the approval required under Mexican law.

Mexico's attorney general, Ernestina Godoy, announced the arrest in a video message on Saturday, Reuters reported. Breitbart Texas reported that Mexican federal prosecutors accuse Jáuregui of working with U.S. agencies, primarily the CIA, without federal approval.

Jáuregui could not immediately be reached for comment, and the U.S. Embassy declined to comment on Saturday, according to Reuters.

What Prosecutors Say the Former Chihuahua Attorney General Did

"The investigation determined that Cesar N may have engaged in conduct that could possibly constitute the crime of treason in matters of national security because he allegedly allowed foreign individuals to intervene without authorization on Mexican territory and take part in actions that correspond exclusively to national security forces," Godoy said, according to Reuters' translation.

Prosecutors allege Jáuregui allowed U.S. agents to participate in an "irregular" raid on a suspected drug laboratory in April without legal authorization, Reuters reported. Godoy said the arrest warrant was signed by a federal judge after months of investigation. Mexican authorities identified him only as "Cesar N," following the common practice of withholding a suspect's full surname during criminal proceedings.

Godoy said prosecutors carried out more than 100 investigative steps, in the office and in the field, before concluding that Jáuregui may have let foreigners act on Mexican soil in operations reserved for federal forces, the Chihuahua newspaper El Diario de Juárez reported.

The April Raid and the Deaths of Two Americans

In April, Chihuahua authorities announced the discovery of one of the largest clandestine drug labs in Mexico's history, a find officials at every level of government initially praised, according to Breitbart Texas. El Diario de Juárez reported that the case concerns events in El Pinal in April.

Days later, two U.S. agents and Chihuahua law enforcement officials were killed in a crash as their convoy returned from the lab site, Breitbart Texas reported. The United States acknowledged in April that two employees of its embassy in Mexico City had died, without saying which agency they worked for; people familiar with the matter told Reuters the two were CIA officers working on anti-narcotics efforts.

Under pressure from President Claudia Sheinbaum's government, Jáuregui resigned in April and took the blame for the operation, Breitbart Texas reported.

A Political Fight Over Cooperation With Washington

After the deaths, Sheinbaum said her government welcomes intelligence sharing and bilateral cooperation against organized crime but does not permit U.S. agents or forces to take part directly in operations on Mexican territory, Reuters reported. Her government has maintained that only federal authorities may coordinate with foreign officials, according to Breitbart Texas.

Chihuahua is governed by the National Action Party (PAN), which is in opposition to Sheinbaum's ruling Morena party. Breitbart Texas noted that Jáuregui is being prosecuted not for corruption, drug trafficking or ties to organized crime, but for having worked with U.S. agencies to investigate and fight drug cartels in his state.

Sources: Reported by Reuters and Breitbart Texas. Reuters, "Ex-Chihuahua attorney general accused of treason for allowing US participation in drug raid," Oct. 17, 2026: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ex-chihuahua-attorney-general-accused-treason-allowing-us-participation-drug-2026-10-18/ ; Breitbart Texas, "Mexican Government Charges Border State AG with Treason for Working with U.S. to Fight Cartels," Oct. 18, 2026: https://www.breitbart.com/border/2026/10/18/mexicos-government-prosecutes-border-state-ag-for-working-with-u-s-to-fight-cartels/ ; El Diario de Juárez, "Confirma FGR orden de aprehensión vs Jáuregui por traición a la patria," Oct. 17, 2026: https://diario.mx/estado/2026/oct/17/video-confirma-fgr-orden-de-aprehension-vs-jauregui-por-traicion-a-la-patria-1143937.html