Colombia’s ambassador to Nicaragua charged with drug trafficking

Colombia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday indicted the country’s ambassador to Nicaragua for drug trafficking, six years after he was arrested with nearly 350 grams (about 12 ounces) of cocaine in a suitcase.

Leon Fredy Munoz has been under investigation since police found the drugs on him at the Medellin airport in May 2018, according to prosecutors.

Munoz claims the drugs were planted by political rivals.

He was freed several days after his initial arrest six years ago, and then served in Congress before being appointed ambassador to Managua in 2022, a position he still holds.

His indictment comes amid a political spat between the two countries.

Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega lashed out Monday against his Colombian and Brazilian counterparts for refusing to recognize Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro’s claim to a reelection victory, disputed by the opposition and much of the international community.

Colombia’s Gustavo Petro hit back on X, saying: “At least I don’t trample on the human rights of the people in my country.”

A press advocacy group said Tuesday Nicaragua had seen a “dramatic increase” in the persecution of journalists, reflecting a wider trend of harassment of government critics under Ortega’s presidency.