Colombian President Gustavo Petro faces US investigation over alleged drug connections

Two US Prosecutors Launch Investigations into Colombian President Gustavo Petro

US prosecutors in Brooklyn and Manhattan have launched two separate criminal investigations into Colombian President Gustavo Petro, according to reports. The New York Times was the first to report on Friday that the probes are focused on drug-smuggling in Latin America.

The investigations reportedly center on whether Petro met with drug traffickers and solicited donations from them for his 2022 presidential campaign. However, it is unclear if Petro is personally the target of these investigations or if he will be implicated as a result of the probes.

Petro has denied any involvement with drug traffickers, stating that he has never spoken with one in his life. He also claimed that he instructed his campaign managers to reject donations from bankers and drug traffickers.

The timing of the report is significant, as it comes just over two months before Colombia’s presidential election on May 31. Experts say that the investigations could potentially influence the outcome of the election.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has been at odds with US President Donald Trump since his return to office in January 2025. Their feud escalated after the US attacked Venezuela and abducted its president, Nicolas Maduro. The two leaders have since held several meetings, including a call and a visit to the White House, where they discussed collaborative efforts to combat drug trafficking.

The investigations are still in their initial stages, and no charges have been filed against Petro. However, experts believe that the timing of the report could be seen as a warning from the US about its influence on the election outcome.

Source: Al Jazeera