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US prosecutors are expected to bring new criminal charges against ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, over allegations that Americans detained in Venezuela were tortured while in government custody.
The potential charges relate to the alleged wrongful detention and mistreatment of more than a dozen US citizens during Maduro’s rule, according to CNN, which cited people familiar with the investigation. Prosecutors are also reportedly considering charges against several other people accused of involvement in the alleged abuse.
Prosecutors could announce the additional charges as soon as Thursday.
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Maduro and Flores are already facing federal charges in the United States following their capture during a US military operation in Caracas in January. They are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn while awaiting trial in New York, which is scheduled for June.
US prosecutors have accused Maduro of using his position as Venezuela’s president to facilitate and protect large-scale drug trafficking. They allege that he worked with criminal organisations to transport tonnes of cocaine into the United States.
Maduro has pleaded not guilty to four counts, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons.
Flores has also pleaded not guilty to three charges involving cocaine importation and firearms offences. She is due to appear in court on Thursday for a hearing on her request to be transferred from federal custody to house arrest. Her lawyers have cited apparent heart problems as part of the application.
The possible torture charges would significantly expand the federal case against Maduro and Flores by adding allegations linked to the treatment of Americans detained in Venezuela. Prosecutors have not publicly confirmed the expected charges.
