Colombia’s president has been designated a ‘priority target’ by the DEA due to alleged drug trafficking ties.

(SeaPRwire) –   The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has labeled Colombian President Gustavo Petro a “priority target” as federal prosecutors in New York examine his alleged connections to drug traffickers, according to individuals familiar with the situation and records reviewed by The Associated Press.

DEA records reveal Petro has emerged in multiple investigations dating back to 2022, many of which are based on interviews with confidential informants. The alleged offenses the DEA has looked into include his potential dealings with Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, a plot to use his “total peace” plan to benefit prominent traffickers who supported his presidential campaign, and the suspected use of law enforcement to smuggle cocaine and fentanyl through Colombian ports.

The “priority target” classification is reserved for suspects the DEA considers to have a “significant impact” on the drug trade.

An inquiry in early stages

In recent months, prosecutors in Brooklyn and Manhattan have been questioning drug traffickers about their links to Petro, particularly regarding claims that the Colombian president’s representatives requested bribes to prevent their extradition to the United States, said a person familiar with the investigation who was not authorized to discuss the ongoing probe and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The person noted it remains unclear whether federal prosecutors have tied Petro to any criminal activity.

The investigation is at least partially focused on allegations that Petro’s representatives sought bribes from drug traffickers at the Colombian prison La Picota in exchange for a commitment that they would not be extradited to the U.S., one of the sources said.

A spokesperson for the Colombian presidency declined to comment on the ongoing investigations into Petro or the related legal proceedings.

Petro has repeatedly denied drug trafficking allegations, especially following former President Trump labeling him an “illegal drug leader” and the Treasury Department sanctioning him in late 2025 over alleged drug trade ties without providing evidence. Petro maintains that while his administration aggressively targets major cartels, it continues to focus on a more lenient, community-based approach for peasant farmers who grow coca leaf.

The federal investigation was first reported by The New York Times on Friday.

Petro came under scrutiny during drug trafficking investigations by New York authorities that led to his identification as a subject, according to another individual familiar with the matter.

The inquiries into Petro are in their early stages, and it is unclear if they will result in charges, this person added, noting the White House has not been involved in the investigations.

Family members under scrutiny

Petro, a former rebel leader, rose to power vowing to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels and redirect state resources to addressing deep-rooted poverty.

A leftist politician known for lengthy, at times disjointed speeches, he has frequently criticized the Trump administration over its support for Israel, bombing of drug boats in the Caribbean, and compared the White House’s migration crackdown to “Nazi” tactics.

After one such outburst at a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, Trump retaliated by revoking Petro’s U.S. visa. He also temporarily imposed high tariffs on Colombia due to Petro’s refusal to accept deportation flights from the United States.

However, more recently, the two have shown signs of improving relations. Following a meeting at the White House in February, Trump described Petro as “terrific.”

Colombian authorities have been investigating members of Petro’s family for potential criminal activity for years.

His son, Nicolás Petro, was charged in 2023 with soliciting illegal campaign contributions from a convicted drug trafficker to fund a lavish lifestyle of expensive cars and homes. The younger Petro has pleaded not guilty, and his father has stated none of the funds were used for his campaign.

The president’s brother, Juan Fernando Petro, has also been linked to secret negotiations with imprisoned drug traffickers that allegedly aimed to protect them from extradition to the U.S. in exchange for their disarmament.

Politics and cocaine

Colombian politics have long been intertwined with cocaine, as the country is the world’s largest supplier of the drug. In the 1980s, drug lord Pablo Escobar was elected to the country’s Congress with support from one of Colombia’s most established political parties. A decade later, his rivals from the Cali cartel flooded the presidential campaign of Ernesto Samper with illegal donations.

The now-defunct urban guerrilla group Petro once belonged to, the 19th of April Movement, has long been suspected of receiving funds from Escobar’s Medellín cartel during its deadly 1985 siege of the Supreme Court. Petro did not take part in the attack, which killed several guerrillas and roughly half of the high court’s justices. The group’s leaders have always denied any connection to the cartel.

___

Durkin Richer reported from Washington. Goodman reported from Miami. Mike Sisak contributed from New York and Astrid Suárez from Bogotá, Colombia.