OFAC Designation - October 24, 2025
Primary designee - alleged drug trafficking ties
Designated as Petro supporter/associate
Designated as Petro supporter/associate
Designated as Petro supporter/associate
"Since President Gustavo Petro came to power, cocaine production in Colombia has exploded to the highest rate in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans. President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity. Today, President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate the trafficking of drugs into our nation."
The Treasury Department also accused Petro of having "allied himself with the narco-terrorist regime of Nicolas Maduro Moros and the Cartel de Los Soles" in Venezuela.
| Authority | Details |
|---|---|
| Executive Order | E.O. 14059 - Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade |
| Statutory Basis | Section 706(1) Foreign Relations Authorization Act |
| Designation | Activities that materially contributed to international proliferation of illicit drugs |
| Program | Global Illicit Drug Trade (OFAC) |
All US property blocked
Cannot enter United States
No US financial access
US persons cannot deal
"Against the calumnies that high-ranking officials have hurled at me on U.S. soil, I will defend myself judicially with American lawyers in the U.S. courts."
The sanctions marked an unprecedented escalation in tensions with a country that has been for decades one of Washington's key Latin American allies and a top recipient of U.S. aid.
Colombia was historically the United States' closest partner in the "War on Drugs" and received billions in military and development aid through Plan Colombia.