BOGOTA, Aug 25, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Colombian drug traffickers facing charges
in the United States will avoid extradition if they turn themselves in, the
new leftist president Gustavo Petro said Wednesday.

Petro said members of the powerful and heavily armed Gulf drug cartel will
enjoy "legal benefits" if they quit the narcotics trade and surrender but he
did not specify if this meant not having to serve prison time, as happened
with leftist guerrillas under a 2016 peace accord.

"A drug trafficker who negotiates with the government," Petro told a press
conference, "will not be extradited."

Petro, the first leftist president in Colombia's history, took power on
August 7.

He said he would negotiate with the United States on how to implement the
non-extradition offer.

After four decades of international efforts to fight the drug trade, Colombia
is still the world's largest cocaine producer and the United States is the
biggest consumer of the drug.

Petro said the drug war has failed and he wants to focus instead on reducing
demand for cocaine in developed countries.

Petro says he will also resume negotiations with Colombia's last active
guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army (ELN).

Most of the main guerrilla army, the FARC, laid down their arms under the
2016 peace accord, but some renegade members are still fighting the
government.

These fighters and the ELN use revenue from drug trafficking to remain
active.

During the press conference Petro said he has received letters from the Gulf
cartel seeking peace and a "different way out" of the drug war.

"So far we have letters. Now we must move on to action," Petro said.