U.S. federal prosecutors have opened separate criminal investigations into Colombian President Gustavo Petro over possible ties to drug traffickers.

The inquiries, handled by the U.S. attorney's offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn, involve prosecutors specializing in international narcotics trafficking along with agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. Investigators are examining whether Petro met with drug traffickers and if his 2022 presidential campaign solicited donations from them. The probes remain in their preliminary phases, and it is uncertain if they will lead to charges.

Three people familiar with the matter spoke to the Times anonymously because they were unauthorized to discuss ongoing investigations. A spokesperson for the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office declined to comment, and the Brooklyn office did not immediately respond. Colombia's presidency had no immediate comment on the report.

Petro, Colombia's first leftist president and a former member of the M-19 urban guerrilla group, has maintained a contentious relationship with the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Petro, once calling him a "sick man," amid disputes over drug policy and U.S. actions in the region. There is no evidence that the White House directed the investigations.

The probes come as Colombia, the world's leading cocaine producer, faces heightened scrutiny from Washington. Since Petro took office in 2022, cocaine production has surged to record levels, drawing U.S. Treasury sanctions in October 2025 against Petro, his wife, son, and associates for allegedly facilitating the illicit drug trade. Tensions peaked last year with Petro accusing U.S. forces of sovereignty violations during anti-drug operations and calling for investigations into Trump over Caribbean strikes, while Trump threatened tariffs and aid cuts.

A February 2026 White House meeting appeared to ease strains temporarily, with Petro urging focus on major drug kingpins. However, U.S.-Colombia cooperation on counternarcotics remains strained, as Colombia has prioritized crop substitution over aggressive eradication.

Petro is term-limited and has endorsed a successor ahead of Colombia's May presidential election. The investigations could provide leverage for the U.S. to push for stricter anti-drug measures or influence the vote, where right-wing candidates have gained amid regional shifts.

In October 2025, former Colombian Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva filed a criminal complaint against Petro with the U.S. Attorney General, adding to pressures. The U.S. has long viewed Colombia as a key ally against narco-terrorism, but Petro's policies have tested that partnership.