BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro revealed on Tuesday that drug traffickers in the country have reportedly acquired two missiles with the intention of targeting his plane to assassinate him. President Petro highlighted the threat, attributing it to his successful efforts in combating the drug trade within Colombia. Speaking without providing concrete evidence, Petro made the alarming statement during the inauguration ceremony of the new director of Colombia’s national police, General Carlos Fernando Triana.
“Let it be known that there are plans to launch missiles at my aircraft, which have been purchased and stockpiled by drug traffickers. Not just one missile, but two missiles,” Petro stated, expressing his concern over the imminent danger. He further stated, “We are aware of the identities of those responsible, but immediate action is necessary,” refraining from specifying the particular group potentially involved in orchestrating such a deadly plot.
In a significant development, Colombia’s security forces reported seizing a record-breaking 883.8 metric tons of cocaine in 2024, as disclosed by the Ministry of Defense. This marked a notable increase from the 746.3 tons of cocaine seized in the previous year of 2023. The rampant production and trafficking of cocaine, alongside illicit gold mining activities, are identified as the primary catalysts fueling a protracted armed conflict spanning over six decades that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 450,000 individuals.
(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Oliver Griffin)
