Mexico denies U.S. DEA statement on cross-border deal to fight drug cartels
Sheinbaum was referring to 'Project Portero,' an effort announced Monday by the DEA, calling it a 'flagship operation' against smuggling routes that move drugs, guns and money across the border.
'The DEA put out a statement yesterday saying that there is an agreement with the Mexican government for an operation called Portero,' Sheinbaum said during her morning news briefing.
'There is no agreement with the DEA. The DEA puts out this statement, based on what we don't know. We have not reached any agreement, none of the security institutions (have) with the DEA.'
The U.S. embassy in Mexico and the DEA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Sheinbaum said the only thing happening was a workshop in Texas attended by four members of Mexico's police force.
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The DEA statement mentioned that workshop, saying it had brought Mexican investigators to one of its intelligence centers to train with U.S. prosecutors, law enforcement, defense officials and members of the intelligence community.
The visibly annoyed president made her comments just days after generally positive exchanges between the two governments following another extension to ward off threatened U.S. tariffs and another shipment of 26 drug cartel figures to the U.S. from Mexico.
2:44
Notorious drug cartel kingpins plead not guilty after Mexico transfers them to US for arraignment
Mexico had seemed to be repairing the security relationship with the United States after six years of tension under Sheinbaum's predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who had reined in DEA agents operating in Mexico and accused the agency of wholesale fabrication when it arrested Mexico's former defense secretary.
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Sheinbaum's administration has taken a more aggressive stance toward pursuing Mexico's drug cartels and sent dozens of cartel figures sought by U.S. prosecutors to the United States.
Sheinbaum did say that members of her administration had been working for months with U.S. counterparts on a broader security agreement that was practically finished. She said that agreement was based on four principles her administration has stressed for months: sovereignty, mutual trust, territorial respect and coordination without subordination.
The thing that seemed to have her bristling Tuesday was the DEA sending out a statement without proper coordination.
Sheinbaum said she asked the DEA to respect Mexico, to follow agreed-upon protocols for such announcements, and emphasized that Mexico only signs agreements with the U.S. government, not with individual agencies.
The DEA statement included a comment from agency administrator Terry Cole, who was recently tapped to lead the Trump administration takeover of the Washington D.C. police.
'Project Portero and this new training program show how we will fight — by planning and operating side by side with our Mexican partners, and by bringing the full strength of the U.S. government to bear,' Cole said in the Monday statement.
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Toronto Sun
12 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. deported to Mexico for alleged cartel ties, drug trafficking
Published Aug 19, 2025 • 2 minute read FILE - Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. arrives for his cruiserweight boxing match against Jake Paul, in Anaheim, Calif., June 28, 2025. Photo by Etienne Laurent / AP MEXICO CITY — Boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been deported to Mexico, where he's wanted for alleged cartel ties, following his arrest in the U.S. for overstaying his visa and lying on a green card application. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Chavez was handed over by authorities and admitted to a prison outside of the city of Hermosillo, in the northern state of Sonora, an official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the news at her daily press conference. 'I understand he was deported. I don't know if it was yesterday or this morning, but we were informed that he was arriving in Mexico,' Sheinbaum said. Chavez, 39, had a warrant for his arrest in Mexico for alleged arms and drug trafficking and ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. Alejandro Gertz Manero, Mexico's attorney general, said the investigation into Chavez started in 2019. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The boxer, who is the son of legendary Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, was arrested July 3 days after his high-profile fight with Jake Paul in California. Sheinbaum said after the arrest she hoped the boxer would be deported to face his charges. Chavez's father was a massive celebrity in the 1980s and '90s who mixed social circles with drug dealers and claimed to have been friends with drug lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes. The iconic fighter defended his son following his arrest, but has not spoken since the deportation. The younger Chavez has battled drug addiction for much of his boxing career, failing drug tests, serving suspensions and egregiously missing weight while being widely criticized for his intermittent dedication to the sport. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Chavez won the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and defended it three times. He shared the ring with generational greats Canelo Alvarez and Sergio Martinez, losing to both. In 2012, he was convicted of drunken driving in Los Angeles and sentenced to 13 days in jail. In January 2024, he was arrested on gun charges. Police said he possessed two AR-style ghost rifles. He was later freed on a $50,000 bond and on condition he went to a residential drug treatment facility. The case is still pending, with Chavez reporting his progress regularly. Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. Toronto Blue Jays Columnists World Sunshine Girls NHL
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