Chihuahua City, Chihuahua — State prosecutor César Jáuregui Moreno announced his irrevocable resignation as Attorney General of the State. His resignation came a week after two U.S. agents were killed in the state of Chihuahua.
The two American agents died alongside two Mexican agents after participating in the dismantlement of a large drug lab. All four were killed April 19 when their vehicle rolled into a ravine in the town of Morelos.
According to Jauregui, the accident occurred early Sunday morning when they were leading a convoy of five official cars.
“It appears that it skidded in some area and fell down a ravine, causing the truck to explode,” Jauregui said at an April 19 press conference.
He noted that the two “training officers” from the United States embassy “were conducting training activities” as part of an exchange between authorities of the two countries.
U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson expressed his condolences on social media.
“We deeply regret the tragic loss of two members of the staff of the United States Embassy, the Director of the Chihuahua State Investigation Agency (AEI), and one member of that agency in this accident.
“We recognize their dedication and their tireless efforts to confront one of the greatest challenges of our time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and with their loved ones.
“This tragedy is a solemn reminder of the risks faced by Mexican and United States officials dedicated to protecting our communities, and it strengthens our determination to continue their mission and advance our shared commitment to security and justice, to protect our people.”
According to an official April 18 statement by the State Attorney General (FGE), the group dismantled two methamphetamine labs located in the mountains between Morelos and Guachochi about nine hours from the city of Chihuahua.
In the first camp and laboratory, an open area of approximately 850 square meters divided into 5 areas was found. The second camp-laboratory, an open area of approximately 40 meters, was also located.
“Personnel from the State Investigation Agency (AEI), the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), and the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Strategic Operations participated in the operation.”
The participation of U.S. agents in the drug lab operation was not mentioned in the official FGE statement that was released the day before their deaths.
After their deaths, questions arose as to how American agents came to participate in a Mexican operation. An investigation into the level of participation by the U.S. agents and their role in the drug lab operation is still underway.
On Monday, César Jauregui Moreno resigned from his position as head of the Chihuahua Prosecutor’s Office following the controversy.
“With full respect for transparency, I submit my irrevocable resignation from my position as Attorney General of the State,” he said at a press conference.
He said he left his position to ensure that the investigations are carried out autonomously and promptly in determining responsibilities.
He acknowledged that regarding the deaths of the foreign agents, “the information we initially had was inconsistent and warranted an investigation to understand their involvement in detail.”
Jauregui Moreno admitted there were information omissions that violated the control and communication mechanisms that he had the obligation to ensure.
“I recognize this political responsibility and the need to correct it,” he said adding that the presence of the U.S. agents has overshadowed what he called “a historic blow to drug trafficking, referring to the dismantled drug lab.
The alleged CIA agents who participated in the Chihuahua operation were not part of the institutional operational deployment, nor was their presence reported to superiors, reported prosecutor Wendy Chávez, head of the specialized unit of the Chihuahua Prosecutor’s Office.
According to Chávez, the foreign agents maintained a limited, reserved participation without direct operational interaction, except with the then director of the State Investigation Agency and his close security team.
She said the U.S. agents did not carry firearms or official insignia upon their entry into Mexico, but wore civilian clothing and kept their faces covered for most of the time.
She also reported that there is no evidence that they presented themselves as members of any corporation or security agency, nor that they exercised command, coordination or execution functions of authority during the operation carried out in Morelos, Chihuahua.
However, she did say there are signs pointing to a possible unofficial collaboration between the CIA and Chihuahua authorities, the nature of which will have to be defined in the following stages of the ongoing investigation.
