The United States Department of Justice has unsealed a sweeping federal indictment accusing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of orchestrating a vast narco-terrorism conspiracy to flood America with cocaine. The charges were revealed hours after former President Donald Trump announced the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Saturday, 3rd January 2026.
The Charges: A 'Cycle of Narcotics-Based Corruption'
A 25-page document from federal prosecutors in New York alleges that Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials "abused their positions of public trust" to transform state institutions into tools for international drug trafficking. The four-count indictment claims the scheme enriched Maduro, his family, and associates through a "cycle of narcotics-based corruption."
The document, signed by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, states the conspiracy lined the pockets of officials while empowering violent narco-terrorists operating with impunity in Venezuela. Alongside Maduro and his wife, the indictment charges his son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, officials Diosdado Cabello and Ramon Rodriguez Chacn, and the alleged leader of the Tren de Aragua criminal group.
Specific Allegations and Legal Proceedings
The defendants face serious charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offences related to machine guns and destructive devices. Maduro and Flores are expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court as early as Monday.
This new indictment builds upon a previous 2020 case but now includes Maduro's wife. Prosecutors are also seeking the forfeiture of all property derived from or used to facilitate the alleged crimes.
Political Context and Military Campaign
The indictment follows a months-long military campaign authorised by the Trump administration against the Maduro regime. This campaign included lethal strikes on boats off Venezuela's coast and a significant naval build-up in the region. The U.S. Coast Guard has recently seized sanctioned oil tankers, and strikes on alleged drug-running vessels have resulted in over 100 fatalities.
Speaking on Fox & Friends after Maduro's capture, Trump indicated his administration would now become "very strongly involved" with Venezuela's lucrative oil industry, which holds some of the world's largest proven reserves. When asked about the country's future, Trump stated, "We're making that decision now. We can't take a chance on letting somebody else run it."
Scrutiny and Allegations of War Crimes
The dramatic capture and indictment are set to intensify legal and political scrutiny of Trump's aggressive tactics. In recent months, experts in the law of war speaking to The Independent have labelled aspects of the campaign, including the deadly strikes, as outright murders and potential war crimes.
Administration officials have offered varying justifications for the operations, with Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, telling Vanity Fair the goal was to force Maduro to "cry uncle." The events mark a critical juncture in the long-standing political confrontation between the US and the Venezuelan government.
