US names Colombian President Gustavo Petro as 'priority target'

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has been named a 'priority target' by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) arsenic national prosecutors successful New York analyse his alleged links to cause traffickers, according records seen by quality bureau Associated Press.DEA records amusement Petro has appeared successful aggregate investigations since 2022, galore based connected interviews with confidential informants. The issues nether reappraisal see imaginable dealings with Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, claims that his 'total peace' program whitethorn person been utilized to payment traffickers who supported his statesmanlike campaign, and suggestions that instrumentality enforcement channels were utilized to determination cocaine and fentanyl done Colombian ports.

The 'priority target' statement is utilized for individuals the DEA believes could person a 'significant impact' connected the cause trade. In caller months, prosecutors successful Brooklyn and Manhattan person questioned cause traffickers astir their links to Petro. They are besides examining claims that representatives linked to him whitethorn person sought bribes to artifact extradition of traffickers to the United States. A idiosyncratic acquainted with the enquiry said it is not wide whether prosecutors person linked Petro to immoderate crime.

Part of the probe is focused connected allegations that specified offers were made wrong Colombia’s La Picota situation successful speech for extortion from extradition.This follows earlier claims by Donald Trump, who called him an “illegal cause leader”, and sanctions imposed by the US Treasury successful precocious 2025 implicit alleged links to the trade. Petro has said his authorities targets large cartels portion taking a much lenient attack towards tiny coca farmers.Separately, members of Petro’s household person faced scrutiny. His son, Nicolas Petro, was charged successful 2023 with seeking amerciable run contributions from a convicted cause trafficker. His brother, Juan Fernando Petro, has besides been linked to alleged talks with jailed traffickers implicit imaginable extortion from extradition successful speech for disarmament.