The United States has slammed a barrage of criminal charges on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following a swift military operation that rocked Venezuela.
US Attorney General Pamela Bondi confirmed that the couple had been indicted at the Southern District of New York over alleged international drug trafficking and weapons offences.
The charges follow US airstrikes on Venezuelan targets and the capture of President Maduro alongside his wife, an operation earlier confirmed by US President Donald Trump as a joint action with US law enforcement agencies.
In a statement released on X on Saturday, Bondi announced, “Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York.”
She outlined the charges against the Venezuelan leader, stating, “Nicholas 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.”
Bondi said the pair would face trial in the United States, warning: “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
She also hailed President Donald Trump for authorising the operation that led to the arrest, describing it as a decisive move to enforce accountability.
“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.”
The United States has for years accused Maduro of masterminding a global drug trafficking network, allegations the Venezuelan leader has consistently denied.
