García Harfuch meets DEA director on security cooperation

Reporting and context

Mexico’s security secretary, Omar García Harfuch, met with U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration director Terrance Cole to discuss joint investigations and action against criminal organizations operating in both countries, according to Tribuna Sonora.

The agenda covered intelligence sharing, financial investigations, outstanding requests for cooperation and extradition matters. García Harfuch said operations inside Mexico remain exclusively the responsibility of Mexican authorities, within their legal powers.

Tribuna Sonora reported that the officials also discussed stopping illicit weapons flows into Mexico, blocking proceeds from drug sales that reach criminal organizations and strengthening efforts against drug trafficking into the United States. Arresting priority targets for both countries was another shared objective, although their names and details of possible operations were not disclosed.

García Harfuch described four principles governing the cooperation: respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, shared responsibility, mutual respect and trust, and cooperation without subordination. He said the work forms part of Mexico’s National Security Strategy and must comply with both countries’ legal frameworks. Extradition matters must proceed through the competent authorities in each country.

The DEA confirmed the meeting on its official X account and described the talks as productive, the outlet reported. The agency said the governments share the goal of dismantling organizations it described as narcoterrorist and confronting the corruption it says supports their operations.

García Harfuch said Mexico’s Security Cabinet would continue strengthening domestic coordination and international cooperation to reduce violence, combat impunity and weaken criminal structures.

Original publication: Tribuna Sonora.