Mexican president warns of harsh penalties for foreign spies

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned Friday that any foreign national conducting security-related activities without authorization will face severe penalties and immediate imprisonment.

"Any foreigner engaging in activities outside the framework of collaboration, coordination and the National Security Law will receive the harshest possible penalty if detained," Sheinbaum said at a press conference.

"We are protecting Mexico," she said, reiterating that the U.S. designation of Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations should not serve as a "pretext for intervention in Mexico."

On Thursday, Sheinbaum introduced two constitutional reform proposals aimed at strengthening national security and sovereignty. The move came after the U.S. government added six Mexican drug cartels to its list of terrorist organizations, expanding its authority to target them.

The proposed reforms, which must be approved by Congress, would amend Articles 19 and 40 of the Constitution to prevent any form of foreign interference in Mexico and to impose the maximum penalty on any foreign national engaging in unlawful activities within the country. ■