The US Attorney General has confirmed the charges Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro now faces following reports that he was captured by US forces after a major military strike.In a dramatic escalation, the Venezuelan capital Caracas was hit by US military strikes in the early hours of Saturday. Videos of the attack quickly spread across social media, and shortly afterward, former President Donald Trump confirmed US involvement on Truth Social—claiming that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been captured and flown out of the country.
In his post, Trump said the operation was carried out in coordination with US law enforcement and announced a press conference to provide further details.US Attorney General Pam Bondi later confirmed that Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. According to Bondi, Maduro faces multiple serious charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess those weapons against the United States.“They will soon face the full force of American justice on American soil,” Bondi said, praising the US military for what she described as a successful operation to capture alleged international narco traffickers. She did not specify what charges Flores may face. Meanwhile, Venezuelan officials have disputed the situation. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government does not know Maduro’s whereabouts and demanded the US provide immediate proof that he and his wife are alive.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López called the operation the “worst aggression” the country has ever faced and urged a united national response. He stated that, following Maduro’s orders, Venezuela’s armed forces have been placed on full deployment as tensions continue to rise.
