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The United States has announced new sanctions targeting Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family members, and a senior government official over allegations of involvement in the international drug trade.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, the relationship between President Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro has gone to shit in recent weeks, with Petro publicly lashing out at Trump on multiple fronts. While speaking in New York during the United Nations General Assembly, Petro accused the US of committing“murder” in Colombian territorial waters after a September strike on a fishing vessel allegedly involved in drug trafficking (a claim he disputed, insisting the boat carried an innocent fisherman). He went further, calling for criminal proceedings against US officials involved in the operation, explicitly stating that prosecution should include “the highest-ranking official who gave the order: President Trump.” The situation escalated when the Trump administration revoked Petro’s USvisa, citing his “reckless and incendiary” remarks and his controversial call during a pro-Palestinian protest urging American soldiers to disobey Trump’s orders. Earlier this week, Trump accused Petro of being a “thug” and “drug dealer.”

What’s going on now: The sanctions announcement, which came from the Treasury Department, accused President Gustavo Petro of contributing to the global proliferation of illicit drugs and facilitating the operations of narco-terrorist organizations within Colombia. “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,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the official release. Bessent added, “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.”

Alongside Petro, the US sanctioned three individuals closely tied to him: his wife, First Lady Veronica del Socorro Alcocer Garcia; his son Nicolas Fernando Petro Burgos; and Interior Minister Armando Alberto Benedetti Villaneda. All four individuals are now subject to asset freezes under US jurisdiction, travel bans, and a prohibition on Americans conducting business with them. The Treasury Department alleges that each of them has either engaged in or materially supported Petro’s alleged involvement in the international drug trade. OFAC documents describe the scheme as a “network of political patronage and narco-financing” that enabled Petro to rise to power and then shield criminal organizations under his “Total Peace” initiative.

According to the US government, Nicolas Petro played a pivotal role in the scheme, serving as a key fundraiser in his father’s campaign. Officials allege he funneled drug money into campaign coffers and policy initiatives aimed at legitimizing criminal actors.

Petro & his son respond: In a brief statement, President Petro condemned the move as politically motivated and hypocritical. He said, “Fighting drug trafficking for decades (and doing so effectively) has brought me this measure from the government of the very society we helped so much to curb its cocaine consumption.” Petro’s son added, “This is a political and judicial persecution without precedent.”