The audios that have shaken Colombia in recent hours are no minor episode. Far from it, they are not just another anecdote in the long list of controversies surrounding President Gustavo Petro.
What is at stake, according to security and justice experts, is the possibility that members close to the government may have discussed or hinted at alleged efforts to favor drug traffickers wanted by U.S. authorities.
This issue alone would be enough to spark a political storm, but it takes on another dimension as it surfaces just before diplomatic meetings and at a time of particular sensitivity for Bogotá and Washington.
The audios were released by sources that so far have kept the exact origin of the material confidential.
They feature several voices talking about contacts and potential maneuvers involving drug lords facing ongoing proceedings in the United States. Although President Petro is not heard in the recordings, opposition sectors interpret the content as a sign that someone within the government could be willing to provide some form of unofficial protection or negotiation.
The president’s response was swift. Petro called the recordings “smear tactics” and asserted that he has never had contact with drug traffickers nor ordered any irregular intervention in favor of criminal organizations.
He did admit, however, that he was alerted to the existence of the audios before meeting with President Donald Trump, which heightened suspicions in diplomatic circles and raised concerns about whether the Casa de Nariño fears that these leaks could damage its relationship with Washington.
Hellbound and Down 