Colombian President Gustavo Petro has reignited a regional controversy by publicly rejecting the existence of the so-called “Cartel de los Soles,” a criminal organization that U.S. authorities have long linked to high-ranking Venezuelan officials. Petro called the cartel a “fictitious excuse” used by far-right actors to justify foreign intervention and destabilize governments that resist U.S. influence.

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In a series of posts on social media, Petro argued that the real control over cocaine trafficking through Venezuela lies with what he termed the “Narcotrafficking Junta,” whose leaders, he claims, reside in Europe and the Middle East. He proposed a joint effort between the U.S., Venezuela, and Colombia to dismantle this network, emphasizing coordination over coercion.

Petro’s remarks drew sharp criticism from U.S. officials. Congressman Carlos Giménez responded by saying Petro had “signed his own sentence,” warning that the statements would not be taken lightly in Washington. The U.S. Department of Justice and Treasury continue to assert that the Cartel de los Soles is led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and other senior officials, accusing them of corrupting state institutions to facilitate drug trafficking.

The Colombian president also responded to right-wing Senator María Fernanda Cabal, comparing the cartel narrative to the false claims of weapons of mass destruction used to justify the Iraq War. He warned that calls for military intervention in Venezuela could trigger mass migration into Colombia and destabilize oil markets, potentially bankrupting Colombia’s state oil company, Ecopetrol.

Petro has repeatedly urged that Venezuela’s political crisis be resolved internally, through dialogue and democratic reform. He also criticized the White House’s approach to regional security, calling for cooperative strategies rather than unilateral impositions.

According to UN data cited by Petro, Venezuela does not produce narcotics and has no illicit crops or drug labs. From January to August 2025, Venezuelan authorities reportedly seized 52.7 tons of drugs trafficked through their territory. Meanwhile, the DEA has not mentioned the Cartel de los Soles in its 2024 or 2025 reports, raising questions about the political motivations behind its earlier prominence.

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