ASIATODAY.ID, NEW YORK — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been formally indicted in New York on multiple charges including narcotics trafficking and weapons offenses, according to US Attorney General Pamela Bondi, in a dramatic escalation of Washington’s confrontation with Caracas.
In a statement posted on X, Bondi said the indictment was filed in the Southern District of New York, accusing Maduro and Flores of “narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to use such weapons against the United States.”
The announcement came amid heightened military tensions.
On Saturday, January 3, 2026, the US military carried out strikes on Venezuelan territory, prompting swift condemnation from Caracas, which described the action as “grave military aggression.”
US President Donald Trump later claimed that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of Venezuela, though no independent confirmation has been provided. Venezuelan authorities have not acknowledged the claim, and Maduro has not yet entered a plea on the charges.
Washington has long accused Maduro of maintaining ties with international drug cartels and facilitating the flow of narcotics into the United States.
The US government has also refused to recognize him as Venezuela’s legitimate leader and has previously offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Maduro has repeatedly rejected the allegations, arguing they are politically motivated and serve as a pretext for US-led efforts to destabilize and overthrow his government.
He has consistently framed American sanctions, indictments, and military pressure as part of a broader campaign of regime change.
The indictment and military action mark one of the most serious confrontations between the two countries in years, raising fears of wider regional instability and renewed debate over the limits of US intervention in Latin America. (RT)
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