Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro suggested on Thursday that men involved in drug trafficking via boats should be referred to as “drug workers” instead of drug traffickers, believing the latter term to be too derogatory.
During an international press conference, Mr. Petro defended his administration’s approach to fighting drug trafficking, which, as noted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has unfortunately resulted in record cocaine production levels in Colombia.
Petro also criticized former President Donald Trump and his attempts to stop drugs from entering the U.S. He condemned the U.S. military presence in Caribbean waters, accusing it of conducting what he termed “extrajudicial executions” through targeted strikes. This includes incidents where a boat carrying drugs to the U.S. was intercepted, resulting in the deaths of at least 37 individuals involved in drug trafficking.
On the subject of those operating boats, Petro argued that they should not be labeled as traffickers. He expressed, “I think it’s unconventional to label these boatmen as drug traffickers. They are drug workers.” He likened their situation to that of impoverished farmers who may resort to cultivating coca leaves for income.
He explained that economic hardships, especially in the Caribbean where he hails from, lead many fishermen and tourism workers to collaborate with drug traffickers due to lack of resources.
The Colombian government claimed that one of the men thought to be killed in a U.S. precision strike is a Colombian named Alejandro Carranza. While Petro described Carranza as merely a fisherman, news outlets later reported that he had been arrested in 2015 for allegedly stealing firearms from a police station.
Petro remarked, “The Santa Marta case raises questions. He’s from a traditional fishing family, but he might have been lured into this due to financial struggles.” He emphasized that the dire economic conditions mean that people sometimes have no choice but to engage in the drug trade.
Petro, who supports the legalization of cocaine, has been increasingly critical of Trump’s policies, particularly regarding efforts to control the drug supply heading to the U.S. At the press conference, he reiterated that what Trump is doing is absurd and violates human rights, citing resolutions from the United Nations Human Rights Council.
He also expressed that Trump unfairly slandered him, following comments where Trump labeled Petro an “illegal drug leader” and announced plans to cut off payments to Colombia due to rising cocaine production during Petro’s tenure.
Petro suggested that Trump might be “ignorant” of the challenges presented in the most recent UNODC report, which noted a 50 percent increase in coca cultivation in Colombia this year. He perceived the timing of the report as an insult amidst a peak in drug seizures.
In a recent interview, Petro called for Trump to be “fired,” alleging that Trump’s presence poses a barrier to democracy and truth. After the lengthy interview, the university president who conducted it noted feeling even more anxious than at the outset.
“Humanity faces the challenge of addressing Trump, perhaps the easiest way is by way of Trump himself,” Petro stated, indicating a desire for change.
On Tuesday, Petro announced a rally in Bogotá as a counter to “a monster like Trump,” aimed at launching efforts for a constituent assembly that could lead to amendments in the constitution, while also addressing the legacy of former conservative President Alvaro Uribe Vélez.
