Mexican ex-prosecutor to stand trial for treason over CIA operation

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 10:19 · Archive

A former Chihuahua prosecutor faces trial for alleged treason over a secret CIA drug lab operation that killed four people.

A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that Cesar Jáuregui, the former district attorney for Chihuahua state, must stand trial on treason charges. Authorities said they presented more than 150 pieces of evidence to demonstrate his alleged involvement in the crime. Jáuregui has been ordered to remain held at El Altiplano, Mexico's highest security prison, during the trial.

The charges relate to an April operation in the mountainous municipality of Morelos to dismantle a clandestine drug laboratory. Authorities allege that CIA agents participated in the operation without Mexico's federal government being notified or granting authorization. A vehicle carrying participants in the operation crashed while returning from the site, killing two US agents and two Mexican state officials.

Mexican authorities claim that Jáuregui had responsibility for informing the federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the operation but failed to do so, instead reporting it to foreign operatives. Jáuregui was arrested on 17 October and initially faced charges of illegal exercise of public office before the treason charge was added. The offense carries a sentence of 5 to 40 years in prison, though legal experts stress that treason charges are exceptionally difficult to prove and have not been successfully brought to trial in Mexico for decades.

How it is being reported

• Mexican official to face treason trial over secret CIA raid that left two US agents deadA federal judge in Mexico has ruled that a former state attorney general will face trial after being accused of treasonIndependent World · 26 Oct, 09:57
• Former district attorney for Mexican state to stand trial for treasonThe former district attorney for the Mexican state of Chihuahua will stand trial on treason charges after a ruling on Sunday, authorities said.UPI · 25 Oct, 23:22

In this story: Cesar Jáuregui · CIA · Chihuahua · Mexico · El Altiplano

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem