Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday that surveillance drone flights by the U.S. government over Mexico are occurring in collaboration with and at the request of her government. They come as U.

The CIA is deploying unmanned drones over Mexico to search for fentanyl labs run by drug cartels after the Trump administration declared cartels are terrorist organizations.

The covert program, begun during the Biden administration and stepped up by President Trump, is hunting for the location of fentanyl labs.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday that U.S. drone flights over Mexican territory were part of a collaboration with the U.S. government, adding that there was nothing illegal about it.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday looked to downplay a report of covert U.S. drone flights spying on drug cartels in Mexico, saying it was part of a "little campaign," without giving further details.

Mexico’s president said Wednesday that U.S. drone flights were part of a collaboration that has existed for years between the two countries, after U.S. media reported increased cross-border aerial surveillance of drug cartels.

Mexico's president said US drone flights were part of a preexisting collaboration after reports of increased cross-border aerial surveillance of drug cartels.