Federal prosecutors have unveiled a sweeping indictment against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, charging them with leading a decades-long narco-terrorism conspiracy following their apprehension by U.S. forces in Caracas. The charges, unsealed in a New York federal court, accuse the couple of collaborating with international cartels to funnel tons of cocaine into the United States while enriching Venezuela’s political elite.
Maduro and Flores made their initial court appearance in New York on Monday, where both entered not guilty pleas to the charges against them. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated on social media that the Venezuelan leader and his wife “will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
President Trump announced the apprehension of Maduro and Flores early Saturday, marking a dramatic escalation in U.S. efforts to hold the Venezuelan government accountable for alleged criminal activities.
The indictment alleges that Venezuela’s leadership has systematically corrupted state institutions over more than 25 years to facilitate massive cocaine importation into the United States. Prosecutors claim the conspiracy began as early as 1999 and involved partnerships with major criminal organizations.
Among the alleged collaborators are Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and Los Zetas, Colombian narco-terrorist groups, and the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The indictment describes how Venezuela’s political and military leadership provided protection and logistical assistance to traffickers in exchange for financial gain.
Federal prosecutors have outlined particular actions they attribute to Maduro during his political career. Between 2006 and 2008, while serving as Venezuela’s foreign minister, Maduro allegedly sold diplomatic passports to known drug traffickers to help them transport drug proceeds from Mexico to Venezuela under diplomatic protection.
The indictment further claims Maduro authorized private aircraft to fly under diplomatic cover, transporting narcotics profits from Mexico back to Venezuela.
Prosecutors allege that Maduro and Flores operated together for years, trafficking cocaine that Venezuelan law enforcement had previously confiscated. According to the charges, the couple maintained state-sponsored criminal groups to safeguard their operations.
The indictment accuses them of ordering violent acts, including kidnappings, beatings, and murders, against individuals who failed to pay drug debts or otherwise interfered with their trafficking network.
The current indictment expands upon charges first announced in March 2020 during the initial Trump administration. At that time, Maduro rejected the allegations and called for diplomatic dialogue with Washington prior to his capture.
The International Criminal Court has separately been conducting an investigation into the Venezuelan government for alleged human rights violations, including torture, sexual violence, and unlawful detentions.
The indictment extends beyond Maduro and Flores to include additional senior Venezuelan officials, among them Maduro’s son. The charges encompass narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons-related offenses.
