On 24 October 2025, the U.S. Treasury blocked property under U.S. jurisdiction belonging to Colombia’s then-president, his wife, his son and then Interior Minister Armando Benedetti. The State Department also withheld a counternarcotics certification tied to certain foreign assistance. Together, the moves put financial restrictions and aid decisions at the center of Washington’s relationship with Colombia.
Sanctions and Financial Restrictions
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated then-President Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego, Verónica del Socorro Alcocer García, Nicolás Fernando Petro Burgos and Armando Benedetti under Executive Order 14059, which targets people involved in the international illicit-drug trade. Under standard OFAC rules, the designations block property and interests in property under U.S. jurisdiction. U.S. persons generally can’t transact with the four individuals unless a transaction is authorized or exempt.
Banks, companies and individuals must also screen transactions involving the designated people and entities they own 50% or more. That requirement reaches beyond the four named people, covering certain entities and transactions. Colombia remains a major U.S. trading partner.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the action rested on allegations that Petro’s government had allowed drug cartels to flourish. The Treasury release didn’t establish those allegations as judicial findings. These sanctions came from the executive branch, not a court judgment.
Aid as a Government Tool
On the same day, the State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio wouldn’t certify Colombia’s counternarcotics performance for certain FY2025 foreign assistance. Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas Pigott cited Section 7045(c)(3)(A) of the FY2024 appropriations law, continued through FY2025 appropriations.
This was an executive-branch funding certification decision. It didn’t constitute a court ruling. Colombia has received billions of dollars in U.S. security and development aid over decades, but the State Department release didn’t specify how much assistance could be affected. Investors would watch whether the decision leads to reduced U.S. assistance or new conditions on cooperation, the report said.
Possible FBI Arrival Remains Unconfirmed
El Diario reported on 3 October 2026, citing El Tiempo, that the FBI could arrive in Colombia during October and that OFAC was evaluating additional sanctions. That’s an attributed account, not confirmation of an announced U.S. operation.
By 4 October 2026, no U.S. agency had confirmed an FBI deployment, specified an arrival date or mission, or announced further sanctions beyond the October 2025 designations. Any later action would require a new official announcement from the FBI, Treasury, State Department or another competent authority.
Gustavo Petro left office when his term ended on 7 August 2026. The earlier sanctions designated him and three associates; reports of possible further measures and an FBI arrival remain unconfirmed. The available official releases set out the financial restrictions and aid-certification decision, but didn’t announce a new operation.