The US Attorney General has revealed the charges Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro now faces following dramatic reports that he was captured by the US military during an overnight operation. According to official statements, the US launched strikes on Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, in the early hours of Saturday, setting off a wave of shock both domestically and internationally. Videos of the military action quickly spread across social media, fueling speculation and confusion as events unfolded.
Not long after the strikes were reported, former President Donald Trump confirmed US involvement through a post on Truth Social. In his message, Trump claimed that the United States had carried out a large-scale operation resulting in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and that both had been flown out of Venezuela. He said the mission was conducted in coordination with US law enforcement and announced a forthcoming press conference to provide further details.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi later confirmed that Maduro and Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Bondi stated that Maduro faces multiple serious charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons against the United States. She emphasized that Maduro would face American justice in US courts.
Bondi praised the US military for what she described as a highly successful mission to capture two alleged international narco traffickers. However, she did not specify the charges, if any, that Maduro’s wife is facing at this time. Her remarks underscored the administration’s framing of the operation as a law enforcement and national security action.
In response, Venezuelan officials expressed alarm and uncertainty. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government did not know Maduro’s whereabouts and demanded immediate proof that both he and his wife were alive. The lack of direct confirmation intensified tensions and raised fears of further escalation.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López called the events the worst aggression Venezuela had ever faced and urged national unity. He stated that the armed forces were acting under Maduro’s orders and would be fully deployed, signaling that Venezuela was preparing for a heightened state of resistance amid the unfolding crisis.
