The United States Department of Justice has announced the indictment of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on multiple serious criminal charges, marking a dramatic escalation in Washington’s long-running confrontation with the Caracas leadership.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday, confirming that a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York has returned indictments against the Venezuelan leader and his spouse. According to the Justice Department, Maduro faces charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, as well as conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States.
“Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York,” Bondi said. “Nicolás Maduro has been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States.”
In a striking claim, the Attorney General added that both defendants are expected to be brought before U.S. courts. “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi declared, without providing further operational details on the circumstances surrounding their capture or transfer.
Bondi credited President Donald Trump for pushing what she described as long-overdue accountability, while also praising the role of the U.S. military in the operation. “On behalf of the entire U.S. Department of Justice, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American people,” she said. “A huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers.”
The announcement represents one of the most consequential legal actions ever taken by the United States against a sitting foreign leader, deepening tensions between Washington and Caracas. U.S. authorities have for years accused Maduro and senior figures in his government of turning Venezuela into a hub for transnational drug trafficking and of collaborating with armed criminal and militant groups.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official response from the Venezuelan government or from representatives of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores regarding the indictments or the Justice Department’s claims. The unfolding case is expected to have far-reaching legal, diplomatic and geopolitical implications, as global attention now turns to how and when the proceedings will move forward in U.S. courts.
