The US Attorney General has outlined the charges now facing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following reports that he was captured by US forces during overnight military operations. Early Saturday, US strikes targeted Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, sparking shock both at home and abroad. Videos of the raids quickly circulated online, adding to confusion and speculation as the situation unfolded.
Shortly after the attacks, former President Donald Trump confirmed US involvement via Truth Social, claiming that both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been captured and flown out of Venezuela. Trump said the operation was coordinated with US law enforcement and announced a press conference to provide additional details.
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 stressed that Maduro would be prosecuted in US courts.
Bondi commended the US military for what she called a highly successful mission to capture two alleged international narcotics traffickers but did not clarify any specific charges against Flores. Her comments framed the operation as a law enforcement and national security initiative.
Venezuelan officials reacted with alarm and uncertainty. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded proof of life for Maduro and his wife, citing a lack of information about their whereabouts. The situation heightened fears of escalation.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López described the operation as the gravest aggression Venezuela had ever faced and called for national unity. He affirmed that the armed forces, acting under Maduro’s command, would be fully mobilized, signaling a readiness to resist amid the ongoing crisis.