How Did the Dismantling of the Narco-Lab in Chihuahua Unfold?

For over a week now—practically speaking, since today marks just over seven days—we have been discussing what transpired on that specific day, during those early morning hours, and that night in Chihuahua. 

This serves as a sort of timeline of the operation and the events that followed in Chihuahua—events which, as we know, culminated in the dismantling of a clandestine drug laboratory and, of course, the fatal accident in which the Director of the State Investigation Agency, his bodyguard, and two U.S. agents lost their lives. 

This tragedy triggered the entire chain of events that has dominated the headlines over the past few days—or, as I mentioned, over the last week, or perhaps a little longer than a week. This account is based on information released yesterday by the Special Prosecutor assigned to this case. 

Well, on Thursday, April 16, at 10:00 a.m., a convoy comprising 40 personnel from the State Investigation Agency—including the Director and his bodyguard—departed from Chihuahua City. 

According to testimony from members of the State Investigation Agency, four unidentified individuals dressed in civilian attire—carrying neither weapons nor any distinctive insignia identifying them as members of any security force or agency—joined the group that day. 

These individuals are presumed to be the four U.S. agents. At 4:30 p.m., the convoy arrived at the military barracks in Huachochi, where a meeting was held to finalize the details of the operation.

 At 5:30 p.m.—one hour later—the convoy departed from the barracks, now accompanied by eight vehicles from the Secretariat of National Defense carrying approximately 50 military personnel; at 11:30 p.m., the joint convoy arrived at the village of Polanco. 

Then, on Friday, April 17, at 4:30 a.m., the convoy resumed its movement along unpaved trails. At 7:30 a.m., it passed through the village of Morelos, and at 3:30 p.m., it arrived at the locality known as El Pinal. There, the military personnel and the State Prosecutor’s Office team established a base camp. 

On Saturday, April 18, at 6:00 a.m., the ground search operations began. At 7:30 a.m., they located two clandestine laboratories. 

The Director of the State Investigation Agency notified the Prosecutor for Strategic Operations at the State Attorney General’s Office, who, in turn, informed the FGR sub-delegates regarding jurisdictional matters and the formal handover of the scene. 

In the hours that followed, the site was inspected and secured. At 5:30 p.m., the Director of the State Investigation Agency ordered the return to the city of Chihuahua. This means that on Sunday, April 19—at 1:50 a.m., specifically—the accident occurred in the vicinity of the town of Polanco. 

The Director of the State Investigation Agency, one of his bodyguards, and—as is already known—two foreign nationals died when the vehicle in which they were traveling plunged into a ravine. 

Two bodyguards and the other two civilians disembarked from a separate unit to assist the victims, supported by the rest of the personnel. 

And from that point on, a series of conflicting statements emerged between the federal government—specifically its federal security agencies—and the government of Chihuahua.

Source: NMás