Four US and Mexican Investigators Killed in Crash After Drug Lab Operation in Mexico

Chihuahua: Four government investigators — two from the United States and two from Mexico — were killed early Sunday in a vehicle crash in northern Mexico’s Chihuahua after inspecting newly discovered drug laboratories, officials said.

According to a spokesperson for the State Attorney General’s Office, the victims were part of a team returning from an operation to seize and destroy two clandestine methamphetamine labs located in the mountainous region of the state.

Mexican authorities said those killed included the director of the state’s investigative agency and another officer. The identities of the two American officials were not immediately released.

The crash occurred around 2 a.m. while a convoy of six vehicles from the State Investigation Agency and the State Attorney General’s Office was traveling back to the state capital.

US Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson said in a statement that the tragedy was “a solemn reminder of the risks faced by those Mexican and U.S. officials who are dedicated to protecting our communities.”

Authorities have not yet released further details on the cause of the accident.