US Prepares High-Profile Trial as Maduro, Wife Face Drug, Terror Charges
United States authorities have confirmed plans to put Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on trial in New York, marking a dramatic escalation in Washington’s long-running confrontation with the Caracas leadership.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Saturday that the couple will be prosecuted in the Southern District of New York on multiple counts, including narco-terrorism and large-scale cocaine trafficking.
“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi said in a post on X.
According to the indictment, Maduro and Flores are charged with “Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy,” conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and firearms-related offenses involving machineguns. While the charges against Maduro date back to 2020, the indictment against Flores had not been publicly known until now.
The Justice Department’s announcement followed confirmation that US military forces, working alongside federal law enforcement agencies, had captured the Venezuelan leader and his wife.
Details of the operation suggest it was coordinated at the highest levels of the US government.
President Donald Trump, speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence, described the mission as a decisive blow against the Venezuelan government.
“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. He added that,
“This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement,” calling it “a brilliant operation” during a phone interview with The New York Times.
US officials said the capture took place as American forces launched military strikes on Caracas, with reports indicating that the elite Delta Force carried out the operation while bombs were falling on the city.
Senator Marco Rubio later confirmed that US military involvement had ended. “No further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in US custody,” he said.
The case against Maduro has long centered on allegations that he led the so-called “Cartel of the Suns,” an organization accused by Washington of moving vast quantities of cocaine through Venezuela.
In August, the Trump administration doubled a standing reward to $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.
Senior diplomats also framed the development as a turning point for the South American nation.
Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau hailed the arrest as a moment of change, writing on X: “The tyrant is gone. He will now finally face justice for his crimes.”
The operation comes just days after Venezuelan authorities had signaled renewed willingness to cooperate with the United States on curbing drug trafficking and illegal migration, adding another layer of complexity to an already volatile diplomatic relationship.
With the indictments now moving forward, attention is expected to shift to New York, where the trial could have far-reaching legal and geopolitical consequences for Venezuela and the wider region.
