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A person familiar with the inquiry said it is not clear whether prosecutors have linked Petro to any crime. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has been named a ‘priority target’ by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as federal prosecutors in New York examine his alleged links to drug traffickers, according records seen by news agency Associated Press. The ‘priority target’ label is used for individuals the DEA believes could have a ‘significant impact’ on the drug trade. In recent months, prosecutors in Brooklyn and Manhattan have questioned drug traffickers about their links to Petro. They are also examining claims that representatives linked to him may have sought bribes to block extradition of traffickers to the United States.
This follows earlier claims by Donald Trump, who called him an “illegal drug leader”, and sanctions imposed by the US Treasury in late 2025 over alleged links to the trade. Petro has said his government targets major cartels while taking a more lenient approach towards small coca farmers.