US federal prosecutors in New York opened preliminary investigations in early 2026 into Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s alleged ties to international narcotics trafficking networks, including possible campaign donations from traffickers and meetings with figures linked to cartels such as Sinaloa. The DEA designated him a priority target based on informant information dating back several years, though the probes did not initially target him directly and remain in early stages with no indictments issued. US officials have publicly clarified that Petro faces no active criminal charges. His term ended in August 2026, altering any head-of-state considerations, while separate recent references to potential testimony from others, such as Ecuadorian Daniel Salcedo, have surfaced without confirmed links or formal actions. These developments, alongside prior OFAC sanctions, shape trader assessments of timelines for any US indictment.