The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Saturday the formal indictment of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on charges of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of war weapons. Their capture was the result of a military operation spearheaded by the elite Delta Force unit.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi confirmed in a statement that both individuals have been charged in the Southern District of New York and will be transferred to face trial on American soil.
"Maduro and his wife stand accused of conspiring to traffic cocaine into the United States, using automatic weapons and explosives for terrorist purposes," Bondi elaborated on her X account.
"They will soon face the full force of American justice, on U.S. soil and in U.S. courts," the attorney general asserted.
Bondi expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for "having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American people" and commended the military forces for executing the "successful mission" to capture the Venezuelan pair.
The Pentagon and CBS News journalists confirmed that the military operation was carried out by Delta Force, the same unit responsible for the 2019 takedown of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
American forces entered Venezuelan territory early Saturday amid explosions reported in Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira.
In Venezuela, the government led by Delcy Rodríguez has condemned the operation as an "unprecedented imperialist aggression" and claims ignorance of Maduro and Flores's whereabouts.
Meanwhile, Diosdado Cabello urged calm and trust in the political-military leadership, despite ongoing power outages and the presence of troops in strategic areas of the capital.
The federal indictment in New York marks a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Venezuela. Should the judicial process proceed, it would be the first time a sitting Latin American leader faces narco-terrorism charges in a U.S. court.
This case draws parallels to that of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, captured by the U.S. in 1989 and tried in Miami for drug trafficking. However, this would be the first instance involving charges of narco-terrorism against a Latin American ruler.
Understanding the Legal Implications of the Charges Against Maduro
What are the charges against Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores?
Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores have been charged with narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of war weapons.
Where will the trial of Maduro and Flores take place?
The trial is set to take place in the Southern District of New York.
How does this case compare to previous U.S. actions in Latin America?
This case is similar to the 1989 capture of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, though it is distinct as it involves charges of narco-terrorism against a sitting Latin American leader.