U.S. Prosecutors Reportedly Investigating Colombian President Petro Over Drug Trafficking Ties

Investigations involve agents from DEA and Homeland Security Investigations, but no charges have been filed yet.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 4:05am

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Federal prosecutors in Manhattan and Brooklyn are reportedly investigating Colombian President Gustavo Petro over alleged ties to drug traffickers, according to a New York Times report citing three unnamed sources. The investigations reportedly involve agents from both the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. No charges have been filed, but Petro has already been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department and placed on the Specially Designated Nationals list.

Why it matters

The sitting president of a major U.S. partner nation being under active federal investigation for drug trafficking ties is a significant diplomatic and security challenge, as it cuts to the core of whether Colombia is operating in good faith on the critical issue of counter-narcotics cooperation with the United States.

The details

The Associated Press, CBS News, and Reuters have also reported on the investigations, with AP noting that Petro has surfaced in multiple federal investigations since 2022 and describing him as a "priority target" in those probes. Petro has denied any connection to drug traffickers, casting himself as a crusader against narco-politics and blaming his political enemies on the Colombian right. However, the U.S. Treasury Department has already sanctioned Petro, his wife, and his son for engaging in or attempting to engage in activities that materially contributed to the international drug trade.

  • The investigations have been ongoing since 2022, according to reports.
  • Petro was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in October.

The players

Gustavo Petro

The current president of Colombia, who is under investigation by U.S. federal prosecutors for alleged ties to drug traffickers.

Veronica Alcocer

The wife of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has also been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department.

Nicolás Petro Burgos

The son of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has also been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department.

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What they’re saying

“There isn't a single investigation into my ties to drug traffickers, for one simple reason: I have never in my life spoken to a drug trafficker.”

— Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia

“So the evidence in the U.S. will help me refute the accusations from Colombia's far right — which is, in fact, deeply entangled with Colombia's drug traffickers.”

— Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia

“There is "no evidence whatsoever" and that Petro is "completely free of any kind of corruption, including anything related to drug trafficking.”

— Daniel Kovalik, Lawyer representing Petro

What’s next

The investigations by federal prosecutors in Manhattan and Brooklyn are ongoing, and it remains to be seen what, if any, charges may be filed against President Petro or his associates.

The takeaway

The investigations into President Petro's alleged ties to drug traffickers highlight the complex and challenging relationship between the United States and Colombia when it comes to counter-narcotics cooperation, especially with a leftist leader in power who has pursued policies that soften enforcement against coca production.