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The President Donald Trump administration said on Saturday that Venezuela’s captured leader, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife will be prosecuted in the United States on drug trafficking and terrorism-related charges.
US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the couple would face trial in American courts after being taken out of Venezuela by US forces.
“Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York,” Bondi said in a post on X.
“Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.
“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers.”
US President Donald Trump earlier announced that American forces had captured Maduro following what he described as a “large scale strike” against Venezuela.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country,” Trump said on Truth Social.
He said the operation was conducted with support from US law enforcement agencies.
Trump said he would address reporters at 11:00 am (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
Speaking briefly by phone with The New York Times, Trump described the operation as “brilliant,” crediting what he called careful planning and the role of US forces.
The announcement follows months of increased US military and economic pressure on Maduro’s government, including sanctions targeting Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy and senior officials accused of corruption and drug trafficking.
