Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has been indicted on multiple charges, including drug and weapons-related offenses, in the Southern District of New York. This legal action comes shortly after his capture during a military operation conducted by U.S. forces.
Details of the Military Operation
On the morning of January 3, U.S. military forces carried out a significant and coordinated operation in Venezuela. Airstrikes targeted military installations in Caracas, followed by an on-ground raid that resulted in the apprehension of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Following their capture, the couple was transported to the United States, where they will face federal charges.
President Donald Trump announced the operation via social media, confirming that Maduro and Flores had been successfully captured and removed from Venezuela. Reports suggest that elite military units, including the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, participated in the operation. Explosions were reported at key military locations, including the Fuerte Tiuna military complex and the La Carlota airbase.
The operation is seen as a culmination of years of mounting U.S. pressure on the Venezuelan government, including a series of financial sanctions and a reward program that had accumulated to $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s indictment.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
The indictment against Maduro expands on previous drug-trafficking allegations. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the indictments via an X post, revealing the charges filed against both Maduro and Flores. The specific charges against Maduro include Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.
Bondi remarked on the case, emphasizing the need for accountability and expressing gratitude to military forces involved in the mission. She stated, “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
Maduro’s charges are linked to a superseding indictment that was first unsealed in 2020. This earlier indictment accused him and numerous high-ranking Venezuelan officials of engaging in a narco-terrorism conspiracy with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The conspiracy allegedly involved the trafficking of large volumes of cocaine into the United States over several decades.
Background of the Indictment
The indictment characterizes Maduro as a prominent figure within the Cartel de los Soles, a drug trafficking organization comprised of Venezuelan military and government officials. It further alleges that members of this cartel provided protection for cocaine production and transportation, in exchange for weapons and financial gains.
The specific charges include narco-terrorism conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and could result in life imprisonment. Additional charges pertain to conspiracy to import cocaine and possession of machine guns and destructive devices related to drug trafficking activities.
The 2020 indictment was based on extensive investigations led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other agencies, which detailed the cartel’s efforts to import hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States each year. The latest indictment marks the inclusion of Cilia Flores in the legal proceedings for the first time.
Next Steps in the Case
Following the operation, Venezuelan officials reported losing contact with Maduro and Flores and have demanded verification of their status. The couple is expected to undergo an arraignment in the Southern District of New York soon after arriving aboard a military vessel.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will unfold and what implications they may have for both the individuals involved and U.S.-Venezuela relations.