Washington DC [US], October 25 (ANI): The United States has imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Francisco Petro, accusing him of facilitating the global illicit drug trade, the Department of the Treasury stated. In addition to President Petro, several of his close associates, including his wife, his son, and a senior aide, have also been sanctioned. According to a statement issued by the Department of the Treasury on Friday, its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed the sanctions under the counternarcotics-related authorities. According to the Treasury Department, the sanctions mean that all property and interests in property of the designated individuals within the US, or in the possession or control of US persons, are now blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Any entities owned, directly or indirectly, 50 per cent or more by the designated individuals are also subject to the same restrictions. The department further stated that US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions involving the property or interests of sanctioned individuals unless specifically authorised by OFAC. Violations may result in civil or criminal penalties under US sanctions laws. The sanctions were issued pursuant to Executive Order 14059, which targets foreign individuals and entities involved in the global narcotics trade. 'Today's action was taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059, which targets foreign persons involved in the global illicit drug trade,' the statement read. 'Since President Gustavo Petro came to power, cocaine production in Colombia has exploded to the highest rate in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans,' said US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. 'President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity. Today, President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate the trafficking of drugs into our country,' he added. Reacting strongly to the sanctions, President Petro described the move as 'a complete paradox', arguing that Colombia has long been at the forefront of the global fight against narcotics. 'Fighting drug trafficking for decades and effectively has brought me this measure from the government of the society we helped so much to curb their cocaine consumption. A complete paradox, but not a step back and never on our knees,' Petro said in a post on X.