At a Glance
- US DOJ released superseding indictment against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, and cartel leader Niño Guerrero.
- Indictment alleges narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons possession.
- Maduro and Flores were arrested in Caracas after tensions escalated; the implicated plane arrived in New York Saturday.
- Why it matters: The indictment expands U.S. legal pressure on Venezuela’s leadership and signals a new phase of international anti-drug enforcement.
By Marcus L. Bennett for News Of Los Angeles
On Saturday, the U.S. Department of Justice published a superseding indictment that names Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, and the alleged Tren de Aragua cartel leader Niño Guerrero. The indictment, which follows the arrival of a plane carrying the accused in New York, also details charges of narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons possession. Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores were arrested in Caracas amid escalating tensions that began with the indictment.
Indictment Overview
The new indictment, filed in the Southern District of New York, accuses Nicolás Maduro and the others of multiple crimes. The charges are organized into four counts:
- Count One: Narco-terrorism conspiracy – includes Nicolás Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, and Ramón Rodríguez Chacín.
- Count Two: Conspiracy to import cocaine – includes Nicolás Maduro, Cabello, Chacín, Cilia Flores, Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, and Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero (Niño Guerrero).
- Count Three: Possession of machine guns and destructive devices – same defendants as Count Two.
- Count Four: Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices – same defendants as Count Two.
Background and Rewards
The U.S. first charged Maduro and other regime officials in 2020, offering rewards for information leading to their capture. The reward amounts have increased over time:
| Year | Reward for Maduro | Reward for Cabello |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $15 million | $10 million |
| 2025 | $50 million | – |
Official Statements
Pam Bondi announced the indictment on X:
> “Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolás Maduro has been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States. They will soon face the full force of American justice on American soil and in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. Department of Justice, 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 armed forces who carried out the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international drug traffickers,” Bondi wrote on X.
William Barr stated:
> “I have a message for high-ranking members of Chavismo: The party is coming to an end,” said then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Ariana Fajardo Orshan during a press conference.
Barr also described the “Cartel of the Suns” and the cocaine trafficking operation:
> “Attorney General William Barr said that since 1999, Maduro and other high-ranking Chavista officials, such as Diosdado Cabello, president of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), have been part of the ‘Cartel of the Suns,’ a name that refers to the insignias worn on the uniforms of high-ranking Venezuelan military officers. According to Barr, Maduro, as the ‘leader’ of the Cartel of the Suns, and other Venezuelan officials worked with FARC dissidents to send approximately 250 tons of cocaine per year to the United States through the Caribbean and several Central American countries, including Honduras.”
