Top Mexican Official Confirms U.S. Drones Are Conducting Missions Deep Inside The Country

Mexican Public Safety Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch has confirmed that U.S. government drones flew missions deep inside the country this week.

In a news conference held by the Public Safety Cabinet, Garcia Harfuch said their presence was requested by the Claudia Sheinbaum administration.

"They are drones or UAVs that fly at the specific request of Mexican government institutions in support of investigations we are conducting in our country," the official said. He added that "no aircraft, no military airplane flies in our country" without authorities' consent.

The flights in question were conducted over the Valle de Mexico, west of Mexico City, a day after the Sheinbaum administration sent 26 high-profile cartel operatives to the United States.

Mexico claimed that the people being extradited were "wanted for their links to criminal organizations for drug trafficking, among other crimes, and represented a permanent risk to public security." It also said that the Department of Justice had requested their extradition and had committed to not requesting the death penalty in their cases.

Those handed over to U.S. custody include Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, a leader of "Los Cuinis," a group closely aligned with notorious cartel Jalisco New Generation, or CJNG. Another defendant, Roberto Salazar, is wanted in connection with the 2008 killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy. Other prominent figures have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and other drug trafficking groups, NBC News reports.

Referring to the extraditions, Garcia Harfuch said "these high-profile criminals, that even incarcerated continued to direct illicit activities through third parties, represented an unacceptable risk for public safety."

He went on to say that the event, as well as the U.S. drone flights, benefit both countries: "These are actions to safeguard public safety, reduce violence and protect citizens with full respect to our sovereignty and in reciprocity with the United States."

"This decision is taken for the sake of national interest. This was a sovereign decision ... in alignment with our national strategy to protect our citizens."

The statements come as Mexican officials are making it clear they reject any unilateral decision by the Trump administration regarding the fight against cartels following a reported order allowing the use of U.S. military force against them.

"That is ruled out — absolutely ruled out — because we have made it clear in every call that such action is neither allowed nor part of any agreement," Sheinbaum said last week.

She went on to say 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."