U.S. Homeland Security Impersonator on X Spreads Misinformation About Colombian Boat Attack

Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused the United States of killing a fisherman in a strike on a boat. A fake account impersonating the U.S. Department of Homeland Security posted two misleading photos on X, claiming to show the boat’s engine and cocaine onboard and accusing Petro of lying. The posts quickly spread across the platform, amplified by many users. 

Colombian President Accuses U.S. of Murder; Trump Cuts Aid

Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused the United States of murdering a fisherman in an attack on a boat that U.S. authorities claimed was transporting illegal drugs.

The escalating feud between the two leaders underscores growing regional tensions over the massive U.S. military presence in the Caribbean.

U.S. forces have reportedly killed dozens of people in recent weeks during maritime operations that the Trump administration insists were against drug traffickers.

However, Washington provided no verifiable evidence to support these claims, relying only on intelligence summaries and selective video footage.

“U.S. government officials committed a murder and violated our sovereignty in our territorial waters,” Petro wrote on social media. He said the victim, Alejandro Carranza, was a lifelong fisherman whose boat suffered damage and drifted in Colombian waters when the U.S. strike occurred.

Trump hit back by accusing Petro of failing to curb drug production, calling him an “illegal drug dealer.” He added that the U.S. would suspend aid to Colombia and later told reporters aboard Air Force One that he planned to announce new tariffs on Colombian imports on Monday.

Fake Account Impersonating U.S. Homeland Security Spreads Misinformation

Following the political clash between the U.S. and Colombian presidents, several X users circulated two photos originally posted by an account impersonating the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

The account claimed the photos showed cocaine aboard the fishing boat that President Petro said the U.S. attacked.

The account further accused Petro of lying, captioning the post, “Columbian President claims one of the Narco boats destroyed by the US Naval Task Force was ‘just a poor Columbian fisherman.’ Does this look like a poor fishing boat?? It looks like he had tons of bait (cocaine, attracts lots of fish)! Columbian President is a liar!!”

Misbar’s investigative team conducted a thorough reverse image search and found that the photos circulated by the impersonating account are misleading and outdated.

The first photo, claimed to show a fishing boat carrying cocaine with advanced engines, predates the alleged incident. Misbar’s team traced it to an original photo published on February 19, 2024, in an article about a drug boat intercepted by Spanish authorities near the Canary Islands.

The second photo, purportedly showing the boat’s advanced engines attacked by the U.S., also originated from older equipment. Misbar’s team found that the footage had been shared in February 2024 on an X marketing page.

Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security maintains an official X account. Since Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter—now X—users can purchase the blue verification badge, while government accounts, including the U.S. Department, continue to display a distinct grey badge displaying their official status.

Tensions Rise Between Trump and Petro

The two presidents have maintained a tense relationship since the start of Trump’s second term.

After Trump took office in January, he threatened steep tariffs on Colombia after Petro blocked the U.S. from using military aircraft to deport thousands of migrants to the country. In September, the U.S. revoked Petro’s visa during the United Nations General Assembly after he urged American soldiers to defy Trump at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York.

Shortly after Trump announced his plan to halt aid to Colombia, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered another strike on a vessel, claiming it was linked to the Colombian rebel group, the National Liberation Army, and was carrying narcotics.

According to The Times, the U.S. deployed its largest military force in the region in decades, with roughly 10,000 troops and numerous aircraft and ships. While the administration says the operation is a counter-drug and counterterrorism mission, officials have privately indicated the primary goal is to pressure Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, to step down.

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