New Delhi | January 3, 2026, 6:52 PM IST
US Attorney General Pam Bondi indicts captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and wife Cilia Flores on narco-terrorism and drug charges in New York, as Russia, Iran, and Cuba slam strikes as illegal aggression.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced indictments against captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on serious narco-terrorism and weapons charges, hours after American forces executed strikes that led to their detention. The development escalates the legal ramifications of the operation, drawing sharp international condemnation from Russia and its allies.
Bondi revealed the charges were filed in the Southern District of New York, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons against the United States.
“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi stated on X, thanking President Donald Trump and US military personnel for the “highly successful mission”.
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
Caracas Strikes Spark Global Firestorm
The indictments followed US air and ground assaults on military targets in Caracas and states including Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. Explosions lit up the capital early Saturday, with President Trump confirming on Truth Social that Maduro and Flores had been “captured and flown out of the Country” in a joint operation with law enforcement.
"The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement.… pic.twitter.com/sFa5OC4ZrZ
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2026
Russia’s Foreign Ministry labeled the strikes an “act of armed aggression” violating international law, while Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev said Venezuela posed “no threat” to the US. Iran decried a “blatant violation” of sovereignty, Cuba called it “state terrorism,” and Colombia’s Gustavo Petro urged a UN Security Council emergency session.
⚡️ We are extremely concerned by reports that Venezuela’s President & his spouse were forcibly taken out of the country during today’s aggressive actions by the US.
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) January 3, 2026
If confirmed, this would constitute a grave violation of sovereignty & international law.https://t.co/Ydtkhzx42Q pic.twitter.com/awhHTKM4Xk
Legal Charges Rooted in Longstanding Allegations
The New York indictment revives 2020 charges against Maduro tied to the alleged Cartel de los Soles, accused of flooding the US with cocaine alongside Colombian FARC rebels and arming militias. Bondi’s announcement ties the military action directly to accountability for these “international narco-traffickers”.
Venezuela’s interim command declared a national emergency, mobilizing against “imperialist aggression,” as the opposition eyes a power transition amid economic collapse and sanctions.
Escalation Over Months Builds to Raid
Tensions simmered for months, with US naval deployments like the USS Gerald R. Ford in November, tanker seizures, and a December drone strike on a port. Trump had warned of land operations, framing them as responses to drug trafficking networks.
Geopolitical Ripples and Legal Path Ahead
With Maduro facing US courts, the strikes risk a broader crisis, polarizing Latin America and testing UN mechanisms. Russia and allies rally condemnation, while Washington prioritizes dismantling alleged narco networks. Analysts predict impacts on oil markets, migration, and hemispheric alliances as trials unfold.
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