Following the stunning capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, the Trump administration announced Saturday morning that both have been indicted on drug charges.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement that both were indicted in the Southern District of New York, with Maduro naturally facing the bulk of the drug- and trafficking-related charges.
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
“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi wrote. “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.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Cotton published a tweet early Saturday morning confirming that Maduro was in U.S. custody and explaining to disbelievers why the dictator had been snatched from his home.
“Nicolas Maduro wasn’t just an illegitimate dictator; he also ran a vast drug-trafficking operation,” Cotton wrote. “That’s why he was indicted in U.S. court nearly six years ago for drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.”
“I just spoke to @SecRubio, who confirmed that Maduro is in U.S. custody and will face justice for his crimes against our citizens. I commend President Trump and our brave troops and law-enforcement officers for this incredible operation,” he added.
He concluded by urging the now-Maduro-free government of Venezuela to move away from trafficking drugs and hobnobbing with the likes of Iran and Cuba to acting “like a normal nation.”
Nicolas Maduro wasn’t just an illegitimate dictator; he also ran a vast drug-trafficking operation. That’s why he was indicted in U.S. court nearly six years ago for drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. I just spoke to @SecRubio, who confirmed that Maduro is in U.S. custody and…
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 3, 2026
As noted by Cotton, Maduro was originally charged in 2020, near the end of the first Trump administration.
At the time, the administration charged Maduro in addition to virtually his entire staff, from his minister of defense to Venezuela’s chief Supreme Court justice.
“For more than 20 years, Maduro and a number of high-ranking colleagues allegedly conspired with the FARC [Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia], causing tons of cocaine to enter and devastate American communities,” then-AG Bill Barr said.
“Today’s announcement is focused on rooting out the extensive corruption within the Venezuelan government – a system constructed and controlled to enrich those at the highest levels of the government. The United States will not allow these corrupt Venezuelan officials to use the U.S. banking system to move their illicit proceeds from South America nor further their criminal schemes,” he added.
Returning to the present, Democrats like House Intelligence Committee ranking member Jim Himes have already taken to complaining.
“Maduro is an illegitimate ruler, but I have seen no evidence that his presidency poses a threat that would justify military action without Congressional authorization, nor have I heard a strategy for the day after and how we will prevent Venezuela from descending into chaos,” he told PunchBowl News.
“Secretary Rubio repeatedly denied to Congress that the Administration intended to force regime change in Venezuela. The Administration must immediately brief Congress on its plan to ensure stability in the region and its legal justification for this decision,” he added.
JIM HIMES, top Democrat on House Intel:
“Maduro is an illegitimate ruler, but I have seen no evidence that his presidency poses a threat that would justify military action without Congressional authorization, nor have I heard a strategy for the day after and how we will prevent…
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2026
Not surprisingly, America’s top enemies share the Democrats’ concerns.
Cuban President Miguel DÃaz-Canel Bermúdez has called the whole opereation against Maduro a “criminal attack.”
“Our zone of peace is being brutally assaulted,” he wrote on X.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has also condemned the attack.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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