Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has had a turbulent relationship with American counterpart Donald Trump, is under investigation by US prosecutors, The New York Times reported Friday.
At least two lines of investigation have been opened by US attorney's offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn, both in New York, in collaboration with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) investigations unit, according to the Times report, which cites unnamed government sources.
The DEA declined to comment on the veracity of the reporting when asked by AFP.
A source familiar with the investigations told AFP meanwhile that Petro had come up as a subject of other drug trafficking probes and that no imminent charges were expected.
Relations between Washington and Bogota entered a highly volatile phase after Trump returned to office 14 months ago.
The right-wing US president and leftist Petro, both outspoken and enthusiastic social media users, quickly clashed over Trump's immigration crackdown and later, his deadly military campaign against alleged drug-trafficking boats.
The two leaders have exchanged public insults, and when Petro was in New York for the UN General Assembly, he joined a street protest where he called on US military personnel to "disobey" Trump's orders.
The State Department yanked Petro's visa and he quickly faced sanctions. Trump even threatened attacks against cartels on Colombian soil and – after the US toppling of Venezuela's leader – warned Petro could be next.
However, in February they met at the White House and agreed to cooperate in the drug fight. Petro said this week that his visa was restored.
Petro has already faced allegations at home of ties to drug trafficking.
According to Colombian prosecutors, the president's son admitted that illicit funds had helped finance his father's 2022 election campaign.
The New York Times reported that the US probes have been exploring possible meeting between Petro and drug traffickers as well as possible campaign donations from organized crime groups.
US prosecutors have sometimes waited until foreign presidents leave office until they unseal criminal charges.
Petro, who cannot run for reelection and leaves office in August, has claimed he has been the target of conspiracies by drug traffickers aimed at undermining his political career.
"I have never spoken to a drug trafficker in my life," he wrote Friday on X.
"I have always told campaign managers not to accept donations from bankers or drug traffickers," he added.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
English (US) · 