Spanish national Eva Ferrer, a former adviser to Verónica Alcocer and former official in Gustavo Petro’s administration, has leveled a series of serious allegations against Colombia’s former first lady, accusing her of leading an alleged criminal organization involved in drug trafficking, the clandestine transport of foreign currency aboard official aircraft, arms trafficking, and money laundering.
In an interview with Semana magazine, Ferrer claimed yesterday that Alcocer had turned her proximity to presidential power and her influence over certain sectors of the administration into tools to advance the economic and political interests of her inner circle.
The account, which places some of the alleged operations in the first months of Petro’s presidency, adds new allegations to the controversy surrounding the influence Alcocer wielded during her then-husband’s administration.
Ferrer also alleged that financial kickbacks were paid in exchange for public appointments and contract-related dealings at government agencies. The claims were published by Semana, a magazine whose editorial line is openly critical of the previous administration and close to sectors of the current De la Espriella cabinet.
Former official names Petro’s ex-wife as ‘leader of criminal gang’
One of the central episodes in Ferrer’s account dates back to January 31, 2023, when, according to her version of events, Alcocer allegedly traveled to Venezuela aboard an official aircraft to transport narcotics and returned to Colombia with US$2.5 million in cash “hidden in gray suitcases.”
The former adviser said photographs exist that would support her account and indicated that the trip was part of a clandestine flight operation between the two countries.
The allegation is particularly serious because it involves the alleged use of state aircraft for activities unrelated to their official duties. However, the existence of an official flight, even if it can be established through aircraft records, does not in itself prove that illegal substances or undeclared cash were transported.
Establishing whether such activities took place would require examining the flight records, the identities of the passengers, any cargo transported, and the photographic evidence cited by Ferrer.
The former official also linked the alleged movement of cash to electoral and political interests within Alcocer’s family circle. The origin of the money, its intended destination, and the possible existence of irregular campaign financing would require a separate investigation.
Ferrer broadened her allegations to include Alcocer’s personal and political circle, which she said she referred to as “the Veronicos” or “the Three Little Pigs.” According to her testimony, this group allegedly took part in activities involving arms trafficking and money laundering as part of a network whose operations supposedly extended from Petro’s presidential campaign through the end of his term last August.
Ferrer thus describes an alleged network of interests that combined family ties, access to government officials, and the ability to influence state agencies.
Another central element of the allegations concerns Alcocer’s supposed role in brokering public appointments and contract awards in exchange for illicit payments. Ferrer claimed that the former first lady exerted direct influence over decisions at several public entities, including Ecopetrol, the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF), and Banco Agrario.
If substantiated by evidence, such practices could involve administrative violations and potential criminal offenses related to bribery, influence peddling, or public procurement. Determining whether they occurred would require reconstructing the decisions in question, identifying their beneficiaries, and establishing whether illicit payments or agreements were involved. Political influence alone does not constitute proof of criminal conduct.
Investigation needed to clarify allegations
President Abelardo de la Espriella announced an investigation by the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC) to examine the allegations concerning the use of official aircraft. The inquiry should establish whether the flights in question complied with established protocols, who took part in them, and whether there are indications of irregularities that should be referred to judicial authorities.
Gustavo Petro, for his part, has not yet formally commented on the material published yesterday. However, in early August, when audio recordings surfaced in which Ferrer alleged that Alcocer had improperly handled public funds, he defended his ex-wife, stating that “she has nothing more than the half of the house she is entitled to” following their separation.
For now, the latest revelations by Eva Ferrer, once one of the people closest to both Petro and Alcocer, are generating a new political uproar in Colombia. Allegations of the former president’s ex-wife’s alleged mishandling of public funds are not new, but the latest claims add serious accusations of drug trafficking, opening the door to a more far-reaching investigation by judicial authorities.