The Department of Justice has formally charged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, his wife, and adult son in a 25-page indictment unsealed Saturday.
“Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States,” Attorney General Pam Bondi announced.
“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers,” she continued.
Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 3, 2026
POLITICO has more:
President Donald Trump said during a press conference Saturday afternoon that Maduro and his wife “will soon face the full might of American justice and stand trial on American soil.” The indictment was unsealed hours after Trump said the U.S. carried out “a large-scale strike” in Venezuela and had captured and flown Maduro and his wife out of the country.
Trump said during the press conference that the pair would be taken to New York. It was not immediately clear if the U.S. had also captured Maduro’s son.
The indictment alleges that Maduro “sits atop a corrupt, illegitimate government that, for decades, has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activity, including drug trafficking.” The drug trafficking, according to the indictment, has enriched Maudro’s family, including his wife and son, who is a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly.
“This cycle of narcotics-based corruption lines the pockets of Venezuelan officials and their families while also benefiting violent narco-terrorists who operate with impunity on Venezuelan soil and who help produce, protect, and transport tons of cocaine to the United States,” the indictment says.
Trump in his remarks called Maduro “the kingpin of a vast criminal network responsible for trafficking colossal amounts of deadly and illicit drugs into the United States.”
“UNSEALED INDICTMENT,” Bondi commented, sharing the 25-page indictment.
UNSEALED INDICTMENT
Thank you US Attorney Jay Claytonhttps://t.co/2URgPKQ25k
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 3, 2026
Roll Call noted:
The move to seize the head of a sovereign nation for the U.S. justice system largely received backing from Republican lawmakers.
But it also raised questions from members of Congress about the Trump administration’s authority to do so and potential repercussions abroad — not to mention the duration of the U.S. presence in Venezuela, after President Donald Trump’s assertion that the U.S. will “run” that country for an indefinite period.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said his War Powers Resolution to prevent U.S. forces from engaging in “hostilities within or against Venezuela” without a declaration of war or specific authorization from Congress would come up for a vote in that chamber next week.
“It is long past time for Congress to reassert its critical constitutional role in matters of war, peace, diplomacy and trade,” Kaine said in a statement. His resolution has only one GOP co-sponsor, however — Rand Paul of Kentucky — and critiques from that side of the aisle were few and far between on Saturday.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, initially raised questions about the legality of the operation. But he later posted on X that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him he “anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody.”
Read the full indictment HERE.