According to U.S. and Mexican officials, Guillermo Zuany Portillo—a former Mexican prosecutor who permitted Central Intelligence Agency operatives to operate in his state and now faces an arrest warrant—has escaped to the United States and currently receives protection from the U.S. government.
A New York Times investigation published this week uncovered that beginning last year, the ex-prosecutor guided C.I.A. personnel for upward of six months while they instructed forces in Chihuahua, accompanied those units on anti-cartel assignments, and offered technical guidance during ground missions.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had consistently stated her opposition to American forces participating in ground operations inside Mexico, condemning such actions as a violation of national sovereignty. Under the Trump administration, the C.I.A. sought to expand its activity in the country, and saw Mr. Zuany as a partner to help it do so quietly.
An April automobile accident that killed two C.I.A. operatives exposed the agency’s secret presence in Chihuahua, sparking a nationwide controversy and prompting Mr. Zuany’s resignation. While an investigation determined the crash an accident, the Mexican authorities recently issued a warrant for Mr. Zuany’s arrest on charges related to his involvement with the agency.
Denying any prior awareness of the agency’s operations, Ms. Sheinbaum reacted with outrage upon learning of the C.I.A.’s involvement in Chihuahua raids. On Wednesday, she said in a regular morning news conference that investigations into the matter must continue.
“It’s worth finding out who this person is and how he worked with one of the U.S. agencies,” she said of Mr. Zuany.
