Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Moros and his wife, Cilia Flores, now face a list of major criminal charges in the United States following their capture earlier today by U.S. forces during an unprecedented military operation in Venezuela. U.S. prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have formally indicted Maduro on multiple counts that carry decades-long sentences and, in several instances, life imprisonment.
The charges are coming amid a bizarre position by President Donald Trump that Washington will assume temporary power in Caracas, until there is a safe transition in Venezuelan. He also released a photograph of the Venezuelan President blindfolded and handcuffed.
Trump spoke during a Press Conference Saturday morning from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
“We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.” Details of how this will work in a sovereign country are not clear but the charges against Maduro are:
1. Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy
At the core of the U.S. case is a charge of conspiring to commit narco-terrorism — a crime that combines drug trafficking with support for terrorist-linked operations and violent organized crime. Prosecutors accuse Maduro of leading a sprawling network known as the Cartel de los Soles, which is alleged to have used corrupt Venezuelan state structures and armed force to protect and expand massive drug shipments destined for the United States.
This charge alone carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life in prison under federal law.
2. Conspiracy to Import Cocaine Into the U.S.
Maduro is also accused of conspiring to import cocaine — in some instances involving multiple tons of the drug — into the United States. According to the indictment, this conspiracy entailed coordinating smuggling routes through the Caribbean and Central America, often with armed escorts and the complicity of Venezuelan security forces.
This offense carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment. El Tiempo Latino
3. Weapons and Destructive Device Offenses
U.S. authorities further allege that Maduro and his associates used, transported, and possessed machineguns and other destructive devices in connection with the narco-terrorism and drug trafficking conspiracies. Prosecutors contend these weapons were employed to protect smuggling operations and to enforce control over territory and cartel logistics.
These arms-related violations carry mandatory minimum sentences of 30 years and up to life imprisonment.
4. Corruption and Money Laundering (Reportedly Part of the Broader Case)
In addition to the core drug and terrorism charges, the U.S. indictment and related filings reportedly include allegations of corruption and money-laundering tied to senior Venezuelan officials, including funds diverted through shell companies and opaque financial transactions. Prosecutors say these schemes helped disguise revenues from narcotics sales and illicit political enrichment.
Charges Against Others in Maduro’s Circle
The broader U.S. indictment also names several other senior Venezuelan officials and alleged accomplices — including Diosdado Cabello, Hugo Carvajal, Clíver Alcalá, and others — who are accused alongside Maduro of participating in the narcotics and narco-terrorism rings.
Legal experts say this criminal case — and the extraordinary step of capturing a sitting head of state — marks one of the most significant prosecutions of a national leader in U.S. history. If convicted, Maduro could face multiple mandatory sentences totaling decades and conceivably life imprisonment.
The military strike has drawn immediate and strong condemnation across the region. Venezuelan authorities declared a state of emergency and demanded evidence of Maduro’s condition and location. Neighbouring governments, including Cuba and Colombia, called for urgent diplomatic action and de-escalation, denouncing the U.S. action as a dangerous violation of international law.
