The United States Department of Justice has formally charged Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro with narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and illegal possession of firearms and destructive devices, the Southern District of New York announced on Saturday.
US Attorney-General Pamela Bondi confirmed that both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been indicted. Bondi praised US law enforcement and military forces involved in the operation and commended President Donald Trump for demanding accountability.
The charges follow President Trump’s announcement on his Truth Social account that Maduro had been captured and removed from Venezuela in a military-backed operation. Trump described the operation as a “large-scale strike” carried out in conjunction with US authorities.
Reports from Caracas indicated multiple explosions early Saturday, accompanied by power outages and the sound of aircraft overhead. Several Venezuelan states, including Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, were reportedly affected.
Venezuelan authorities condemned the action, describing it as “grave military aggression.” The government said Maduro had declared a state of emergency and activated national defence plans. Officials also said complaints would be filed with the United Nations Security Council and other international bodies, calling for global condemnation.
The US recently strengthened its military presence in the Caribbean amid ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking networks allegedly linked to the Venezuelan government.
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