By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
THE UNITED States has announced terrorism and drug-related charges against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, hours after President Donald Trump claimed Maduro had been captured and flown out of Venezuela.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the couple will face criminal charges following an indictment in New York.
Bondi wrote on X that Maduro and Flores “will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
Bondi detailed the charges in her post: “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.” She added: “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.”
Maduro was initially indicted in 2020 in New York, but it was previously unknown that his wife had also been indicted.
Venezuela responded by demanding an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting to address what it described as U.S. attacks. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil wrote on Telegram: “Faced with the criminal aggression committed by the US government against our homeland, we have requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council, which is responsible for upholding international law.”
The U.S. military has conducted strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean since early September. The Trump administration reported 35 known boat strikes as of January 2, 2025, resulting in at least 115 deaths.
These operations followed a major U.S. military buildup off South America, including the November deployment of the nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier, adding thousands of troops to what the administration described as the largest military presence in the region in generations.
Trump has framed the boat strikes as a necessary escalation to prevent the flow of drugs into the United States and has described the campaign as an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.
On Friday, Venezuela indicated it remained open to negotiating an agreement with the U.S. to combat drug trafficking.
Maduro also stated in a pre-recorded interview aired on Thursday that the U.S. aims to force a change of government in Venezuela and gain access to its oil reserves through the pressure campaign.
Bondi’s announcement marked the first public confirmation that Flores faces charges alongside her husband.
The pair’s indictment in New York outlines serious offences against the United States, including conspiracies related to narcotics and possession of military-grade weapons.
The Trump administration cited the capture of Maduro and Flores as a “highly successful mission” conducted by the U.S. military, reflecting its continued campaign to target alleged international narcotics traffickers.
He also said the latest developments follow an extended period of tension between Washington and Caracas.
However, Maduro’s claims, in his Thursday interview, reiterated longstanding accusations that U.S. actions are motivated by a desire to control Venezuela’s oil resources, framing the measures as part of a wider strategy of political and economic pressure.
