BOGOTA, Colombia (AFP) — In a dramatic development, Colombia’s Supreme Court has officially indicted Leon Fredy Munoz, the country’s ambassador to Nicaragua, on drug trafficking charges. The indictment comes six years after Munoz was initially arrested with nearly 350 grams (about 12 ounces) of cocaine found in his suitcase at Medellin airport in May 2018.
Munoz, who took office as the ambassador to Managua in 2022 after a stint in Congress, has long maintained that the drugs were planted by his political adversaries. Despite being freed shortly after his arrest six years ago, the case lingered, culminating in Tuesday’s indictment.
The timing of Munoz’s indictment is particularly charged, occurring amidst a contentious political environment between Colombia and Nicaragua. Recently, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega publicly criticized Colombia and Brazil for their refusal to acknowledge Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s controversial claim to a reelection victory. This election has been widely disputed by the opposition and much of the international community.
In response, Colombian President Gustavo Petro retorted via X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “At least I don’t trample on the human rights of the people in my country,” highlighting the growing diplomatic friction between the neighboring countries.
Further deepening the political crisis, a press advocacy group reported on Tuesday that Nicaragua has seen a “dramatic increase” in the persecution of journalists. This development is reflective of a broader trend of government critics facing harassment under Ortega’s increasingly authoritarian regime.
As Munoz continues to serve as ambassador to Nicaragua amidst his legal troubles, the delicate geopolitical relations between Colombia and Nicaragua face further uncertainty.
