Federal prosecutors in New York have launched an investigation into Colombian President Gustavo Petro for alleged ties to drug traffickers, two people familiar with the case told the AP.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Prosecutors in Brooklyn and Manhattan have been questioning drug traffickers in recent months about their ties to Petro, particularly allegations that representatives of the Colombian president sought bribes to block their extraditions to the United States, one of the two anonymous sources said.
According to the source, it is not yet clear whether federal prosecutors have implicated Petar in any criminal offense.
"The investigation is focused on efforts in Colombian prisons to obtain donations for Peter's campaign - and for Peter himself - in exchange for a promise not to be extradited (to the US)," the source told the AP.
A spokesman for the Colombian presidency declined to comment on the investigation and further procedures regarding Petra.
The federal investigation was first reported today by the New York Times.
Another person familiar with the case says Petro came to attention during drug trafficking investigations conducted by New York authorities, which led them to identify him as a subject in the investigation.
The investigation is in its early stages and it is not known whether it will progress to indictment, the person said, adding that the White House has no role in these investigations.
Petro, a former rebel leader and ardent leftist, came to power in Colombia on promises to reduce the Latin American country's dependence on fossil fuels and redirect state resources to fight deep-rooted poverty.
The Colombian president is known for his sometimes incoherent speeches. He regularly criticizes US President Donald Trump for his support for Israel, the bombing of ships suspected of smuggling drugs through the Caribbean Sea, and for US anti-immigrant policies that he calls "Nazi" tactics.
Petro had one such outburst at a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, to which Trump responded by denying him a US visa. Trump briefly imposed very high tariffs on Colombia because Petro refused to accept planes carrying deported migrants from the US.
Recently, their relationship has warmed, and in February, Petro and Trump met at the White House. Trump described Petro as "great."
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