A newly unsealed U.S. Department of Justice indictment has formally charged deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, and their son with multiple serious offenses following their capture and transfer to New York on January 3, 2026. The indictment, originally filed in a Manhattan federal court in 2020 during Donald Trump's first term, accuses Maduro of leading a narco-terrorism enterprise that allegedly flooded the United States with cocaine while providing material support to designated terrorist organizations. The document was unsealed shortly after the couple's arrival in U.S. custody, making the charges official and paving the way for prosecution in American courts.

The primary charges against Nicolás Maduro include 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. Prosecutors allege that Maduro, as head of the so-called Cartel de los Soles, orchestrated large-scale cocaine trafficking operations from Venezuela to the U.S. and other countries. The indictment claims he knowingly used his position to protect drug traffickers and received millions in bribes in exchange for facilitating the shipments. These activities are said to have generated billions in illicit revenue while contributing to widespread violence and instability in the region.

Cilia Flores, Maduro's wife, faces similar accusations of participating in the narco-terrorism and drug trafficking conspiracies. The indictment also names their son, along with three other high-ranking Venezuelan officials, as co-conspirators in the alleged criminal enterprise. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the couple would "soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts." The charges carry potential life sentences, reflecting the gravity of the allegations linking political leadership with international drug trafficking networks. The U.S. government has long maintained a $25 million bounty on Maduro for these offenses.

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The unsealing of the indictment comes amid intense global scrutiny of the U.S. military operation that led to Maduro's capture. While supporters of the action view it as a major blow against narco-trafficking, critics argue it represents an unlawful violation of sovereignty. The case is expected to proceed in the Southern District of New York, where previous indictments against Venezuelan officials have been handled. As legal proceedings begin, Maduro's fate will likely have far-reaching implications for Venezuela's political future and U.S. relations in Latin America. The international community continues to watch closely as the once-powerful leader faces accountability in a foreign court.

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