US prosecutors investigate Colombia’s Petro over suspected ties to drug traffickers

© Fernando Vergara, AP
by FRANCE 24
March 20, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Colombian President Gustavo Petro is under examination by two separate U.S. federal prosecutors' offices.

AI Summary

US federal prosecutors in two offices are investigating Colombian President Gustavo Petro over suspected ties to drug traffickers, according to reporting by the New York Times. The investigation marks a significant escalation in tensions between the Trump administration and Colombia, which have been strained since Trump took office in January 2025. Petro and Trump have already clashed over several issues, including US deportation policies and extradition matters. The probe could further destabilize the already volatile relationship between the two countries and complicate cooperation on narcotics enforcement, a cornerstone of US-Colombia relations. The investigation's scope and potential targets within Petro's government remain unclear.

What's Being Done

Two U.S. federal prosecutors' offices are conducting criminal investigations into Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

Source Coverage Map

7 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

Overlooked Story
16% coverage
Did Not Cover (36)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP US News96AP Top News96ProPublica95+31 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro under investigation in US for drug ties
Global

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro under investigation in US for drug ties

Faced with reports that two US prosecutors have opened probes, the left-wing leader denies links to drug traffickers.

Al JazeeraMar 20
U.S. Prosecutors Investigate Colombia’s President, a Onetime Trump Foe
Global

U.S. Prosecutors Investigate Colombia’s President, a Onetime Trump Foe

The Justice Department is examining whether President Gustavo Petro of Colombia has ties to drug traffickers.

New York TimesMar 20
Colombian president accuses Ecuador after ‘27 charred bodies’ found near border
Global

Colombian president accuses Ecuador after ‘27 charred bodies’ found near border

<p>Relations deteriorate as Gustavo Petro claims government of Trump ally Daniel Noboa bombing targets in Colombia</p><p>President Gustavo Petro has accused <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/ecuador">Ecuador</a> of bombing targets inside Colombian territory, saying later that the burned remains of nearly 30 people had been found near the border, in a sharp deterioration in relations between the two neighbouring countries.</p><p>The Colombian leader said on Tuesday that an attack which had left “27 charred bodies” did not appear to have been carried out by Colombia’s own forces or any illegal armed groups which he said do not have armed planes.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/17/colombian-president-ecuador-bodies">Continue reading...</a>

The Guardian World NewsMar 17
US military blows up drug vessel in Eastern Pacific, leaving 3 survivors
National Security

US military blows up drug vessel in Eastern Pacific, leaving 3 survivors

The U.S. military blew up an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Thursday, leaving three survivors, the U.S. Southern Command (Southcom) announced Friday morning. Southcom said a “low-profile” vessel was operated by a designated terrorist organization and transiting along “known narco-trafficking routes.” It is unclear if there were any casualties from the strike…

The HillMar 20
Flights, petrol cars and cruise ships: Amsterdam bans fossil fuel ads
Environment

Flights, petrol cars and cruise ships: Amsterdam bans fossil fuel ads

Cities around the world are clearing their billboards of ads for flights, cruise ships and petrol cars in an effort to reduce planet-warming gases. Amsterdam is the latest city to join the movement, becoming the first capital in the world to approve a legal ban on fossil fuel advertising. Dutch activists are now calling for restrictions to be enforced on a national level. Our Down to Earth team reports.

AFP / France 24Mar 20
Cory Booker calls both parties ‘feckless’ for ceding war powers to Trump
Politics

Cory Booker calls both parties ‘feckless’ for ceding war powers to Trump

<p>Democrat says Congress ‘doing nothing’ may embolden president to attack countries such as Cuba and North Korea</p><p>Democratic US senator <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/cory-booker">Cory Booker</a> has criticized both his own political party as well as its Republican counterpart for being “feckless” in ceding congressional war powers to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump">Donald Trump</a>, saying that their decision could embolden the president to unilaterally attack Cuba, North Korea and other countries.</p><p>“I’m going to be one of those Democrats [who] say I think both parties have been feckless in allowing the growth of the power of the presidency,” Booker said on Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/15/cory-booker-trump-war-powers-congress">Continue reading...</a>

The Guardian US NewsMar 15
Read Next
Trump faces his most difficult Iran war decision: Will he deploy U.S. troops to seize uranium?
National Security

Trump faces his most difficult Iran war decision: Will he deploy U.S. troops to seize uranium?

The president has been circumspect about how far he's willing to go to follow through on his pledge to destroy Iran's weapons program once and for all, including seizing or destroying the near-bomb-grade nuclear material that Iran possesses.

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources