Mexican officials rejected claims made by Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terrance Cole, who said July 13 that the Mexican government has a "dangerous connection" to drug cartels, adding that "they are one in the same."
In a statement posted on social media, Mexico's Security Cabinet categorically rejected Cole's remarks, saying the security strategy implemented under President Claudia Sheinbaum is based on a policy of zero impunity. The statement also highlighted the results achieved by Mexican authorities since Sheinbaum took office in October 2024.
"The statements made are baseless and do not reflect the publicly available and verifiable results that the Government of Mexico has presented in its fight against criminal organizations," the statement read.
El Gabinete de Seguridad informa: pic.twitter.com/qgsWJPbs6Q
— Gabinete de Seguridad de México (@GabSeguridadMX) July 14, 2026
During the Fentanyl Free America Summit, held in Orlando, Florida, from July 13 to July 16, Cole said the United States remains committed to combating the criminal organizations responsible for trafficking fentanyl and other drugs into the country.
"At the DEA, enforcement is our foundation. We bring the full wave of this agency to the fight against the cartels, against the facilitators, the distributors, the money launderers, the chemical supply, and every individual that profits from poisoning American citizens. This includes the deadly connection between cartel networks and the Mexican Government. They are one in the same. And at DEA, they are our number one priority," Cole said in a statement.
It is not the first time Cole has made such accusations against the Mexican government. During a Senate hearing in May, the DEA chief said drug traffickers and high-ranking government officials in Mexico have been "in the same bed for years," adding that U.S. authorities continue to closely monitor alleged ties between politicians and organized crime groups.
Rejecting Cole's comments, Mexico's Security Cabinet said its actions against members of organized crime have been carried out "without distinction," highlighting 59,582 arrests and the seizure of 498 tons of drugs, including 2,363 kilograms of fentanyl since October 2024, as reported by Animal Político.
Sheinbaum also criticized Cole's remarks during her July 15 press conference, arguing they were politically motivated and lacked any factual basis.
"I think it's a very unfortunate statement for several reasons. First, it strikes me as more of a political statement than one based on evidence. There is no basis for what he is saying," she said.
She also took aim at the United States, arguing the DEA should devote more of its efforts to combating drug trafficking and drug production within its own borders.
"It seems to me that the DEA has plenty of work to do in the United States. Normally, the DEA dedicates most of its work outside the United States, but it has a great deal of work to do within its own country and should primarily be focused on that," Sheinbaum said, as reported by Animal Politico.
Sheinbaum also referenced the famous television series Breaking Bad, saying it depicts the production of methamphetamine in the United States, and argued that drugs are also manufactured north of the border.
"But beyond that, the largest drug market in the world is in the United States. Who sells the drugs? How are they sold? How are they distributed? How is the money laundered? Those are the things the DEA should be investigating," she said.
