U.S. Federal prosecutors are investigating Colombian President Gustavo Petro for potential ties to drug trafficking organizations, according to reports that surfaced Friday. The inquiries, conducted by federal prosecutors’ offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn, are in their early stages and involve officials specializing in international narcotics cases, as well as agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The New York Times first reported the investigations, citing three individuals familiar with the matter. Investigators are reportedly examining potential meetings between Petro and drug traffickers and whether his 2022 presidential campaign received illicit funding from criminal organizations. It remains unclear whether the investigations will lead to criminal charges.
News of the investigation prompted immediate reaction from U.S. Lawmakers. Republican Representative Carlos Gimenez of Florida publicly celebrated the news, stating Petro would “have to face the consequences of his pathetic, illegal actions before the U.S. Judiciary.” Gimenez, a vocal critic of Petro, added, “Colombians are tired that a criminal addict is in charge of the Casa de Nariño,” referring to the Colombian presidential palace. He called for an end to “impunity.”
The investigations reach amid strained relations between the U.S. And Colombia under Petro’s administration. In October, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Petro, alleging his “total peace” plan—intended to negotiate with armed groups—had inadvertently allowed narco-terrorist organizations to flourish and contributed to increased cocaine production. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated Petro had “failed demonstrably” to halt the flow of cocaine into the United States. Petro dismissed the sanctions as a “complete paradox” and indicated he had retained legal counsel in the U.S.
According to reports, there is no indication the White House initiated the investigations. However, the Trump administration frequently clashed with Petro over regional policies. The investigations are being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, not the Florida district represented by Gimenez.
Senator María Fernanda Cabal of Colombia’s Centro Democrático party reacted to the reports on social media, stating Petro had “much to explain in the U.S.” Cambio Radical, another Colombian political party, characterized the situation as “unprecedented in Colombian foreign policy” and demanded explanations from the president.
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