Nicolas Petro, the son of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has been arrested as part of an investigation into money laundering and illicit enrichment, according to the attorney general’s office. The younger Petro, who is a politician in Atlantico province, had welcomed the investigation when it began in March and denied accusations that he took money from drug traffickers in exchange for including them in his father’s peace efforts.
In addition to Nicolas Petro, his ex-wife Daysuris del Carmen Vasquez was also arrested on accusations of money laundering and personal data violation. Vasquez had previously stated to local media that two individuals accused of involvement in drug trafficking had given money to Nicolas for his father’s campaign.
President Gustavo Petro took to X, the platform previously known as Twitter, to express his feelings about his son’s arrest. He acknowledged that it was painful for one of his children to be jailed but stated that he respected the attorney general’s office and their adherence to the law. The president wished his son luck and strength and expressed hope that this experience would help him reflect on his own errors.
Gustavo Petro, who has pledged to make peace or surrender deals with rebels and crime gangs to end Colombia’s internal conflict, has faced both success and challenges in his efforts during his first year in office. Negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group have resulted in a ceasefire set to begin in August, while attempts to hold conversations with the major crime gang, the Clan del Golfo, have been hindered by ongoing violence.
A proposed law to regulate crime group surrenders, which includes lower sentences in exchange for information and restorative work, has faced criticism, including from the attorney general. The attorney general’s office plans to request that a judge hold Nicolas Petro and Vasquez on the charges brought against them.
The arrests of Nicolas Petro and Vasquez took place at 6 a.m. local time (1100 GMT), and the attorney general’s office has stated that charges will be formulated and liberty restriction measures will be requested for the accused.
Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb; editing by Diane Craft