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US files criminal charges against Nicolas Maduro and his wife

US files criminal charges against Nicolas Maduro and his wife

Inna Kramarchuk Journalist

03 January 2026, 16:40

US files criminal charges against Nicolas Maduro and his wife — the consequences of the US attack on Caracas

The US Attorney General's Office has announced criminal charges against Nicolas Maduro and Celia Flores. They are charged with narcoterrorism, cocaine smuggling and illegal possession of weapons.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that an indictment has been filed in the Southern District of New York against ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores.

According to Bondi, Maduro is accused of conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism, organising the importation of cocaine into the United States, illegal possession of machine guns and explosive devices, and conspiracy to use these weapons against the United States. Earlier, in March 2020, the United States had already charged Maduro with narcoterrorism, while his wife has not been involved in any cases so far.

The Attorney General stressed that the suspects will face US justice directly in US courts. She also thanked President Donald Trump and the US military for the operation to detain Maduro, which Washington called a success.

At the same time, the US notes that some key representatives of the Venezuelan government, including the country's interior minister and defence minister, remain in office.

Photo: DW

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