The Colombian president, on his Twitter account, expressed his sadness at the arrest of his son, expressing his hope that this experience will help him reflect on his mistakes. The prosecutor’s office also reported that Nicolás Petro’s ex-wife, Daysuris Vásquez, was arrested on charges of money laundering and violation of personal data. Last March, Vásquez accused his ex-partner of having ties to drug traffickers and smugglers as well as receiving large sums of money destined for the president’s presidential campaign, which in reality he would have used to lead a luxurious life in Barranquilla, a city in the north of the country.
Since this scandal broke, Petro has flatly denied having financial ties to the mafia, and, in fact, it was he himself who requested that an investigation be opened against his own son. Nicolás Petro held the position of deputy in the department of Atlántico as part of the president’s political movement, the Historical Pact. However, the media have published Nicolás’s bank statements, which far exceed his salary as a deputy.
In an interview, Daysuris Vásquez stated that former drug trafficker and smuggler Samuel Santander Lopesierra gave his former partner the equivalent of about $124,000. Santander Lopesierra, known as “The Marlboro Man,” served an 18-year sentence in the United States for drug trafficking.
This case has generated a great media and political uproar in Colombia, and investigations continue to clarify the financial links and mutual accusations between the parties involved. President Petro has reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and expressed his willingness to cooperate fully with the authorities in clarifying the facts.