The Trump administration’s attempt to expand CIA operations in Mexico reached deep into the state of Chihuahua, where U.S. agents worked to build a clandestine special forces unit, according to a report by The New York Times.
This covert collaboration, which operated behind the scenes of official diplomacy, relied on a local fiscal who was simultaneously under investigation by the FBI for alleged ties to organized crime.
The operation, which began in the autumn of 2025, placed American intelligence officers directly on the ground in northern Mexico. These agents did not merely exchange intelligence; they participated in tactical missions, wore state police insignia to avoid detection, and provided fire support during raids on criminal safe houses, as detailed by The New York Times.
Dentro de los operativos armados de la CIA en México: La CIA se alió con un fiscal de Chihuahua investigado por el FBI por presuntos nexos con el crimen organizado. Facilitó entrenamiento y operativos con policías estatales. Recuperó la visa que le había cancelado EEUU. La…
U.S. Officials Leveraged Visa Cancellations to Secure Zuany's Cooperation
At the center of this arrangement was Guillermo Zuany Portillo, then the Specialized Prosecutor for Strategic Operations and Anti-Kidnapping in Chihuahua. According to The New York Times, U.S. officials leveraged the cancellation of Zuany’s visa—a penalty prompted by his suspected criminal links—to secure his cooperation. By facilitating the CIA’s access to the Chihuahua State Police, Zuany saw his U.S. travel privileges restored.
The partnership functioned as a shadow operation that bypassed standard bilateral security protocols. While the Mexican government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, had explicitly warned that foreign security intervention on national soil would violate sovereignty, the CIA maintained a persistent presence in Chihuahua for over six months.
The New York Times reports that Zuany served as the primary conduit, even introducing American officers to state police commanders as the architects of a new, specialized enforcement unit.
🚨 Guillermo Zuany Portillo, exfiscal especializado en Operaciones Estratégicas y Antisecuestro de Chihuahua y prófugo de la justicia, habría ayudado a la CIA a operar en secreto en México mientras el FBI lo investigaba por presuntos vínculos con el narcotráfico. Según @nytimes,… pic.twitter.com/mBOt7uM86h
CIA Agents Participated in Tactical Operations Alongside Local Forces
The involvement of U.S. personnel went beyond desk-bound analysis. During a specific operation targeting a suspected cartel leader at a local bar, CIA agents helped direct the mission while equipped with tactical gear and weapons. Although the target escaped before the unit arrived, the incident showed how closely the American agency and local forces work together.
In another instance, an American agent provided cover fire with a rifle while Mexican police breached a criminal safe house. Following the entry, the agent reportedly inspected digital devices seized from the property and observed the interrogation of a detainee.
This covert reality remained hidden from the public until April 19, 2026, when a fatal accident involving a vehicle carrying both CIA agents and local prosecutors claimed the lives of four people, including two American operatives.
Political Fallout in Chihuahua
The crash triggered a massive scandal that forced the operation into the light. While the state government initially attempted to shift blame onto the deceased police commander involved in the accident, the narrative has since fractured.
Zuany, who is now a fugitive from justice, has claimed via text message that Chihuahua María Eugenia Campos was fully aware of the CIA’s presence and activities, a charge the Governor has consistently denied.
The legal consequences are now mounting. Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection Omar García Harfuch confirmed that both the Chihuahua state prosecutor and the Federal Attorney General’s Office have active warrants for Zuany’s arrest.
Durante más de seis meses, el funcionario facilitó el entrenamiento de policías estatales, la incorporación de agentes estadounidenses a despliegues y su participación en operativos, pese a que el FBI investigaba al propio fiscal por presuntos vínculos con el crimen organizado,…
More on Guillermo Zuany Portillo
“Maru sí sabía”: desde su escondite, Zuany manda mensaje de texto a reporteros de NYT El exfiscal Especializado de Operaciones Estratégicas y Antisecuestro de la Fiscalía General de Chihuahua afirma que la Gobernadora sí estaba enterada de las operaciones de los agentes.…
