US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the indictment of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the Southern District of New York for serious federal crimes related to drug trafficking and terrorism. President Donald Trump claimed on social media platform ‘Truth Social’ that Maduro and his wife had been “captured” and “flown out” of Caracas earlier in the day. Trump stated that the US had conducted a large-scale strike against Venezuela, with further details to be revealed in a news conference at Mar-a-Lago.
Attorney General Bondi detailed the charges against Maduro, including Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. Bondi expressed gratitude to President Trump for seeking accountability and praised the military for successfully capturing the alleged international narco traffickers. Venezuela Vice President Delcy Rodríguez raised concerns about the whereabouts of Maduro and his wife following the US attacks in various locations in Venezuela.
Rodríguez called for proof of life for Maduro and Flores from the US government and urged the population to unite in defense of the country. Reports indicated a nighttime US military operation involving Chinook helicopters and special forces assets, with explosions heard in Caracas. Maduro was reportedly captured by the US Army’s Delta Force, following Trump’s authorization of military action after months of increased US military presence near Venezuela and calls for Maduro to resign.
