Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the immediate retirement of Brigadier General Edwin Urrego, the police commander of Cali, on Wednesday, following accusations that the high-ranking officer attempted to sabotage the president’s recent meeting with US President Donald Trump.
The Ministry of Defense issued a decree on Wednesday formally removing Urrego from active service. The dismissal executes an order from President Petro, who alleged that the general was involved in a plot to plant drugs in a vehicle belonging to the presidential entourage during the diplomatic visit to Washington last week.
“There is a general whom I ordered to be removed from the Police,” Petro said Tuesday while presiding over a Council of Ministers meeting in the flood-stricken city of Montería. “Someone gave him the order, obviously not us, to put psychoactive substances in the car, with the mission of destroying the meeting with Trump.”
Police General Urregogo denied President Petro’s accusations
Although Petro did not initially name Urrego during his speech, he linked the accused officer to a police raid conducted last November at the home of Interior Minister Armando Benedetti near Barranquilla, where Urrego previously served as commander.
General Urrego vehemently denied the allegations in an interview with Caracol Radio, calling the president’s claims “total disinformation.”
“It does not obey reality. Thinking of carrying out such an act would go against democracy itself,” Urrego said. He added that his duties were unrelated to the president’s security detail or the Barranquilla raid, and announced he is considering legal action to defend his reputation. “No one has given me the opportunity to defend myself, nor have they presented evidence.”
The dismissal comes at a volatile moment for Colombia, which is grappling with unprecedented flooding on its Caribbean coast and preparing for legislative elections on March 8 and presidential elections on May 31.
Petro is concerned about threats against his administration
The meeting between Petro and Trump, which concluded with unexpected warmth after a year of bilateral tensions, was viewed as a significant political victory for the Colombian left. By demonstrating that a leftist government could maintain harmonious relations with the United States, Petro sought to neutralize a key criticism from the political right ahead of the upcoming elections.
During the same ministerial meeting, Petro expressed alarm over other perceived threats against his administration. He accused Attorney General Luz Adriana Camargo of orchestrating a strategy to corner him through legal proceedings against his inner circle. On Tuesday, the Prosecutor’s Office announced charges against Ricardo Roa, Petro’s 2022 campaign manager, for allegedly violating electoral financing caps.
Petro also reiterated claims of plots against his life, stating he had delayed his arrival in Montería due to intelligence suggesting his helicopter might be targeted.
“I come from two days, not in the arms of love, but escaping being killed,” Petro said. The president’s security concerns are heightened by the recent assassination of Senator and opposition candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay, a killing that has revived fears of the political violence that marred Colombia in the late 20th century.