César Jáuregui Moreno, Chihuahua's former attorney general, has been held at the Altiplano federal prison since Monday, October 19, 2026, after Mexico's Attorney General's Office (FGR) arrested him for treason, according to [Excélsior](https://www.excelsior.com.mx/nacional/cesar-jauregui-penal-altiplano-traicion-patria-agentes-cia) and [Milenio](https://www.milenio.com/politica/cesar-jauregui-llega-altiplano-traicion-patria). The charge relates to an anti-drug operation in April in the Chihuahua mountains in which CIA agents took part without federal authorization.
Jáuregui denies authorizing the presence of foreign agents and his defense argues the case is politically motivated. This article sums up the known facts, the charges, what each side says and the upcoming dates. Like any defendant, Jáuregui is presumed innocent until a judge rules otherwise.
What happened in the El Pinal operation
Between April 16 and 19, 2026, Chihuahua's State Investigation Agency carried out an operation to dismantle a clandestine synthetic drug lab in El Pinal, in the municipality of Morelos, in the Sierra Tarahumara. Americans later identified as CIA agents took part, according to Infobae. Reports differ on how many there were: two or four.
After the operation, a vehicle fell into a ravine. Two state prosecution officials and two U.S. agents died, according to Imagen Radio. President Claudia Sheinbaum said at the time that the federal government did not know about the agents' presence, according to CNN en Español.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 16-19, 2026 | Operation in El Pinal, Morelos municipality (Chihuahua) |
| April 19 | Accident: two state officials and two U.S. agents die |
| April 27 | Jáuregui resigns as Chihuahua's attorney general |
| October 17 and 18 | Arrest in the state case and a hearing lasting more than ten hours |
| October 18 (night) | The FGR executes a federal arrest warrant for treason |
| October 19 | Transfer to the Altiplano prison, in the State of Mexico |
| October 22 | State hearing on whether to bind him over for trial, by video link |
What César Jáuregui is accused of
The former prosecutor faces two separate cases, according to Imagen Radio:
| Case | Alleged offense | Status |
|---|---|---|
| State (Chihuahua prosecutor's office) | Unlawful exercise of public office and collusion of public servants | A judge let him face the case out of custody, with conditions |
| Federal (FGR) | Treason in national security matters | Held at the Altiplano; initial hearing pending |
In the state case, Judge Luis Alberto Simental denied pretrial detention and ordered measures such as surrendering his passport, signing in periodically and staying away from witnesses. As he left the courthouse, FGR agents executed the federal warrant. Attorney General Ernestina Godoy argued that Chihuahua had no authority to run such an operation without notifying the federal government and that ceding exclusive state powers to foreigners violates the Constitution.
What Jáuregui faces for treason
Treason is covered by Article 123 of the Federal Penal Code, which provides five to forty years in prison for anyone who, among other conduct, acts against the independence, sovereignty or integrity of the nation in order to subject it to a foreign government. The offense is almost never used: criminal law expert Samuel González Ruiz told Imagen Radio the charge is weak because, in his view, the offense presupposes a state of war, and that the provision had not been used this way in more than 80 years.
The FGR has not published its full charge. What is known comes from public statements by Attorney General Godoy and the presidency, and from press reports on the hearings.
What César Jáuregui and his defense say
- Jáuregui: told the judge that none of the more than 40 state police officers who testified named him as the person who authorized the armed presence of foreigners. "Not one order, not one WhatsApp," he said, according to Infobae.
- His resignation: he said he stepped down so as not to interfere with internal investigations.
- The defense: argues the case aims to remove him from the race for the PAN nomination for mayor of Chihuahua and that his presumption of innocence is being violated.
- Chihuahua government: Governor María Eugenia Campos said she will hand over all information the federal government requests and that "no one is above the law".
- Federal government: Sheinbaum called the operation "irresponsible and irregular" and said other investigations into the former prosecutor are open.
| Person | Role in the case |
|---|---|
| Ernestina Godoy | Attorney General of Mexico; brought the federal treason charge |
| Luis Alberto Simental | Control judge in Chihuahua; allowed the state case to proceed out of custody |
| María Eugenia Campos | Governor of Chihuahua (PAN); appointed Jáuregui |
| Claudia Sheinbaum | President of Mexico; backed the arrest |
| Héctor Villasana and Luis Villegas Montes | Jáuregui's defense lawyers, according to the press |
The relationship between Jáuregui and the governor, who had appointed him, broke down over the case, according to Infobae.
What comes next in the César Jáuregui case
- Federal hearing: the FGR must formally charge him with treason before a federal judge, who will decide whether to bind him over and what precautionary measures to apply.
- October 22: the state hearing resumes in Chihuahua, with Jáuregui connected by video from the Altiplano.
- Former AEI director: Guillermo Arturo Zuany Portillo, also linked to the state case, is a fugitive, according to Imagen Radio.
- Other investigations: Sheinbaum said there are more open inquiries into the former prosecutor, which the FGR will report on.
Why the case matters beyond Chihuahua
The case touches a sensitive issue in Mexico-U.S. relations: the presence of armed foreign agents on Mexican soil. Mexican law requires any such cooperation to go through the federal government. The case will be followed closely in both countries in a year with other tensions, such as the peso's slide (see why the Mexican peso is falling). We will update this article with the judges' rulings on October 22 and at the federal hearing.
Frequently asked questions
Who is César Jáuregui?
A PAN lawyer and politician. He was Chihuahua's attorney general for almost four years and resigned on April 27, 2026, after the El Pinal operation.
Why is he accused of treason?
The FGR accuses him of allowing foreign agents, identified as CIA, to take part in an operation on Mexican soil without federal authorization. He denies it.
Where is he being held?
At Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 1, the Altiplano, in Almoloya de Juárez, State of Mexico.
What is the penalty for treason in Mexico?
Article 123 of the Federal Penal Code sets five to forty years in prison.
