Maduro had been wanted by the United States since at least 2020, when during Trump's first term federal charges were filed against him and an initial reward of 15 million dollars was offered for information leading to his capture.
Last August, that amount was raised to 50 million, amid accusations that the Venezuelan leader was using foreign criminal and terrorist organizations, such as Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, and the so-called Cartel of the Suns, to traffic drugs into the United States.
Bondi recalled that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has seized about 30 metric tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his inner circle, including almost seven metric tons directly associated with Maduro himself, which constitutes one of the main sources of funding for the cartels that operate from Venezuela and Mexico.
Maduro utilizaba organizaciones del narcotráfico para trasladar cocaína a los Estados Unidos
After his capture, Maduro was taken out of Venezuela by U.S. forces, although his exact destination has not been publicly disclosed. From Russia, the vice dictator Delcy Rodríguez demanded proof of life, while she acknowledged that the Venezuelan government doesn't know the president's whereabouts.
On the international stage, Maduro's allies condemned the operation, while European leaders called for restraint and respect for international law, while reiterating that they consider that Maduro lacks democratic legitimacy.
From Washington, the Trump administration defended the operation as a necessary action in the face of an illegitimate regime linked to drug trafficking and terrorist organizations.
Trump announced that he will offer a press conference from Mar-a-Lago, where he is expected to provide more details about one of the most forceful decisions of his presidency in foreign policy and national security.
Delcy Rodríguez repudió el operativo de Estados Unidos
The United States government confirmed this Saturday that the Venezuelan narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were formally charged with multiple federal crimes after they were captured by U.S. forces during a high-risk military operation carried out at dawn.
Attorney General Pam Bondi reported that both face charges in the Southern District of New York, including narcoterrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of weapons and destructive devices, and conspiracy to use them against the United States.
In a message posted on the social network X, Bondi stated that Maduro and Flores "will soon face the full weight of U.S. justice in U.S. courts," emphasizing that the operation was the result of years of investigation and of the government's determination to hold accountable those it considers responsible for bringing drugs, violence, and terrorism into U.S. territory.
The attorney general explicitly thanked President Donald Trump for "having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American people" and the armed forces for carrying out a mission that she described as "incredibly successful".
Pam Bondi, fiscal general de los Estados Unidos, confirmó cargos por narcoterrorismo y conspiración contra los Estados Unidos
According to authorities, Maduro, 63 years old and in power since 2013, was detained after a series of airstrikes ordered by Trump against strategic military facilities in Caracas.
The explosions began around 2:00 a.m., affecting complexes such as Fuerte Tiuna, the country's largest military compound, where large-scale fires were reported. U.S. officials maintain that these actions were aimed at protecting the forces in charge of executing the arrest warrant and neutralizing immediate threats.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Maduro was arrested to be tried in the United States, according to Senator Mike Lee, who reported this after having a direct conversation with him. Lee maintained that the operation falls within the president's inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from actual or imminent attacks.
Marco Rubio confirmó que Maduro fue capturado para ser juzgado en Estados Unidos
