The UK ambassador to Mexico reportedly left his post earlier this year after he pointed a gun at a local member of embassy staff.
A video posted on social media, originally reported by the Financial Times, purports to show Jon Benjamin aiming a rifle at another man while looking down the weapon’s sights.
It was captioned: “In a context of daily killings in Mexico by drug dealers, he dares to joke.”
While no official announcement about Mr Benjamin’s position has been made, he is no longer listed as ambassador to Mexico on the government’s official website.
On the gov.uk website, Mr Benjamin is crediting as having served as ambassador to Mexico “between 2021 and 2024”.
In the video, a man can be seen moving a weapon around the car, aiming it at different people. Laughter can be heard in the background.
One man can be seen gesturing uncomfortably as the weapon is aimed at him.
Over 30,000 people were murdered in Mexico last year.
The country has extremely restrictive gun laws, and is home to only one gun shop, housed in a Mexico City military complex.
But Mexican authorities allege that tens of thousands of US-manufactured guns are trafficked across the border each year, many into the hands of drug cartels.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told the Financial Times: “We are aware of this incident and have taken appropriate action.
“Where internal issues do arise the FCDO has robust HR processes to address them.”
Before his posting in Mexico, Mr Benjamin served as British ambassador to Chile from 2009 to 2014 and ambassador to Ghana between 2014 and 2016.
In 2012 he apologised for a tweet that referenced an anti-Argentina football chant about the Falklands War.
The BBC has contacted Mr Benjamin and the FCDO for comment.
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