Colombian President Petro Acknowledges Facility Targeted By U.S. Strike Produced Cocaine, Blames Guerrilla Group

Colombian President Gustavo Petro acknowledged that the facility targeted by the U.S. earlier this month in Venezuela produced cocaine, saying guerrilla group ELN is behind the operation.

In a lengthy social media post, Petro said he knows "Trump bombed a factory, in Maracaibo, where coca paste is mixed to turn it into cocaine and take advantage of Maracaibo's location."

He went on to blame the guerrilla group, saying that its activities are allowing the U.S. to "invade Venezuela." Petro then suggested the country's army should go to the region and replace coca crops, also considering that the price of the drug has "plummeted."

"There are massive warehouses in Africa storing tens of tons of cocaine and the price of coca leaves in Colombia have plunged. It is now more profitable to deal with cannabis and lawful gold than cocaine. It's replacement time and the state must take advantage of this," Petro said.

The attack in question was reportedly conducted by the CIA and hit what has been described as a remote dock in the Venezuelan coast. CNN cited sources with knowledge of the attack who said no one was present at the facility and there were no casualties. It added that Special Operations Forces provided intelligence support, but a spokesperson for the US Special Operations Command, Col. Allie Weiskopf, said that was not the case.

In another passage of the message he addressed the recent sanctions against him imposed by the U.S., saying Trump has "been led to believe that I am a frontman for Maduro."

"I thought U.S. intelligence was more professional. Or maybe it is but the U.S. president doesn't listen to it and surrounds himself with greedy right-wing people who don't seek the truth," Petro said.

"U.S. professional investigators should know that neither me nor my close family members have assets outside the country nor in Colombia other than my house, for which I still owe. Even the New York Times published an article saying no proof has been found to keep me in the OFAC," he added.