US EditionColombia's Petro under criminal investigation in US, New York Times reports
US prosecutors in New York are probing allegations that Colombian President Petro's representatives solicited bribes to block extradition and that his 2022 campaign received illicit funds.
- On Friday, U.S. federal prosecutors in Manhattan and Brooklyn opened two criminal inquiries into Colombian President Gustavo Petro, examining alleged meetings with drug traffickers and whether his 2022 campaign solicited illicit donations.
- Mounting tensions characterized U.S.-Colombia relations after the Treasury Department sanctioned Petro in October 2025 for alleged narco-terrorist ties; however, the two leaders thawed relations after a February meeting where Trump called him "terrific."
- DEA records based on confidential informants suggest Petro's involvement with Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, while prosecutors scrutinize allegations that his representatives solicited bribes at La Picota prison to block extraditions to the U.S.
- Colombia's Embassy in Washington dismissed the reports as "unverified" and lacking "legal or factual basis," while Petro denied trafficking links, claiming the proceedings aim to influence the May 31 election.
- Investigations remain in early stages with no confirmed charges, yet analysts note the timing—barely two and a half months before Colombia's presidential election—provides potential leverage as Petro faces term limits.
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro caught up in multiple narcotics trafficking probes, sources say
Colombian President Gustavo Petro is the subject of several ongoing narcotics trafficking investigations being overseen by federal prosecutors in New York, sources told CBS News on Friday.The separate narco-trafficking investigations, based out of New York’s Southern and Eastern districts, did not set out to target Petro initially, but his name has come up during the course of both probes, one of the sources said.The probes are still in the very…
DEA names Colombian President ‘priority target’ as U.S. prosecutors probe ties to drug traffickers
The alleged crimes the DEA has investigated include his possible dealings with Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, a scheme to leverage his “total peace” plan to benefit prominent traffickers who contributed to his presidential campaign
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, said this Friday that “never” has had a relationship with drug traffickers, after the beginning of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, due to its alleged links with drug trafficking and the financing of its campaign with money from drugs.“As you know (the newspaper) El Espectador, in Colombia there is not a single investigation about my relationship with drug traffickers, for one reason o…
Federal prosecutors in New York have launched an investigation into Colombian President Gustavo Pedro over alleged ties to drug traffickers, two people familiar with the case told the AP.
By Uriel Blanco, CNN en Español - Colombian President Gustavo Petro denied on Friday having any links to drug trafficking groups, after media reports circulated about possible US investigations against him for this reason, while the Colombian Embassy in Washington said it has not received any notification about any possible inquiry.
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