Mexican President Sheinbaum Rejects Reaching An Agreement With DEA To Crack Down On Cartels

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected the claim that her administration reached a deal with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to "dismantle cartel gatekeepers and combat synthetic drug trafficking."

Speaking at her daily morning press conference, Sheinbaum said "there is no agreement with the DEA." "They published the release but we don't know what it is based on. We did not reach any agreement," she added.

Sheinbaum went on to say that the only cooperation that has taken place is a workshop in Texas with a group of Mexican law enforcement agents, as well as negotiations about an agreement with the Department of State.

The DEA announced on Monday "a major new initiative to strengthen collaboration" between the countries "in the fight against cartels, whose trafficking networks are responsible for flooding American communities with deadly synthetic drugs."

Dubbed Project Potrero, the DEA described it as its "flagship operation aimed at dismantling cartel "gatekeepers", operatives who control the smuggling corridors along the Southwest Border."

"Gatekeepers are essential to cartel operations, directing the flow of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States while ensuring the movement of firearms and bulk cash back into Mexico. By specifically targeting them, DEA and its partners are striking at the heart of cartel command-and-control," the statement added, noting that to advance it the agency launched a "multi-week training and collaboration program at one of its intelligence centers."

The discrepancy comes after President Donald Trump signed an order approving the use of military force against cartels. Sheinbaum reacted to the order earlier this month, saying such an operation is "absolutely ruled out."

She also said her administration had been informed about the executive order, but emphasized that "it had nothing to do with the participation of any military forces in Mexico."

Sheinbaum underscored that any U.S. agencies currently operating in Mexico are under tight restrictions. "I believe we're the country with the most regulation for foreign agents, whether they're from the United States or elsewhere," she said.

However, the Trump administration is reportedly drawing attack plans against cartels in Mexico, with officials warning that the president is serious about the possibility.

Quoting a senior administration official, Rolling Stone magazine reported last Friday that the development is "not a negotiating tactic," and that Trump "has been clear that a strike... is coming unless we see some big, major changes."