The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel, assured that the agency has intensified its counterintelligence and national security operations, achieving the neutralization of 113 alleged foreign spies active in the United States and the expulsion of 62 Chinese agents so far in 2026.

The data was disseminated by Patel through his account on the social network X, where he stated that the FBI is going through a phase of offensive against foreign threats, criminal organizations and cybercrimes. However, the official did not specify the exact period to which several of the figures correspond nor did he explain the methodology used to obtain them.

The message was accompanied by an institutional video in which the agency maintains that there is a “war” for national security and presents the FBI as the institution that leads efforts to confront espionage, cyberattacks and organized crime.

Among the results mentioned by Patel also include a 53% increase in counterintelligence arrests, 4,800 cartel-related arrests, the neutralization of 850 alleged active conspiracies and a 77% increase in federal indictments for computer crimes.

The FBI highlights actions against espionage and organized crime

In the video released by the FBI director, it is stated that the expulsion of 62 alleged Chinese spies represents a historical increase of 933% compared to previous periods, although the agency did not publish additional information that would allow this comparison to be verified. Patel said the results reflect a strategy focused on eliminating bureaucratic obstacles and strengthening the agency's investigative capabilities.

"People can argue all they want, but the numbers don't lie. With the FBI leading the offensive, our country is safer than ever," the official said in the message posted on social networks. The statements occur in a context in which the Department of Justice maintains operations directed against transnational criminal organizations and alleged espionage networks linked to foreign governments.

Since March 2025, the Department of Justice implemented the so-called Operation Reclaim America, a national strategy aimed at coordinating investigations against cartels, criminal organizations, violent crimes and illegal immigration through federal task forces.

Alerts for espionage and cyberattacks persist

Patel's statements coincide with warnings issued by the US intelligence community about the increase in espionage activities and cyber operations promoted by foreign governments.

The 2026 Annual Threat Assessment, prepared by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, identifies China and Russia as the main actors in espionage and cyber threats against the United States. The report also warns that Iran and North Korea continue to develop capabilities to attack government networks, private companies and critical infrastructure.

According to that assessment, foreign adversaries seek to obtain confidential information, appropriate strategic technology and maintain capabilities to affect essential services in the event of a crisis.

The FBI has also noted on several occasions that economic espionage attributed to China represents one of the main threats to the country's national security and technological competitiveness. In parallel, the agency continues to investigate cyber operations allegedly linked to Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Despite the figures presented by Patel, so far the FBI has not released a technical report that details how the data on the 113 alleged neutralized spies was collected nor has it specified which specific cases make up the statistics released by its director, so the results cannot yet be compared with previous official reports from the agency.