President Gustavo Petro was included on the list of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) of the United States Department of the Treasury. The decision of this government entity responds to facts related to the fight against illicit drugs.
(Read more: ‘The threat was fulfilled’: Petro on his inclusion on the Clinton list)
“Since President Gustavo Petro came to power, cocaine production in Colombia has skyrocketed to its highest level in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans”declared the Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, in a statement shared by the US Government in which the sanction against the Colombian president was announced.
In addition to the head of state, three people from his close circle were also included in the so-called ‘Clinton list’: the first lady, Verónica Alcocer; his son Nicolás Petro, and the Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti.
Upon your addition to this registry, all of your assets and property located in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. citizens They are blocked and must be reported to Ofac. Additionally, any entity that is owned, directly or indirectly, individually or collectively, 50% or more, by one or more blocked persons is also disqualified.
(Read more: ‘Lunatico’: Marco Rubio joins the criticism of Gustavo Petro from Washington)
Why are they on the list?
The US Treasury Department breaks down a series of facts related to Alcocer, Benedetti and Nicolás Petro. In the case of the latter, mention is made of his arrest for money laundering and illicit enrichment after being accused of having channeled money received from drug trafficking towards the ‘Total Peace’ initiatives and Gustavo Petro’s electoral campaign.
From the first lady, for her part, her unconstitutional designation as ambassador on special mission is noted, appointment that was later annulled.
Finally, from the Minister of the Interior, the Department emphasized the different positions in which he has held since the beginning of the Petro administrationas well as the leak of audios in which his alleged participation in the financing of the now president’s campaign is discussed.
Given these facts, the government entity indicated that Nicolás Fernando Petro Burgos, Verónica del Socorro Alcocer García and Armando Benedetti are being appointed “for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material or technological support, or goods or services in support of Gustavo Petro”, entering the category of “facilitators.”
(Read more: The United States suspended all payments and all financing to Colombia)
JESSIKA RODRIGUEZ M.
Portfolio Journalist
