At a Glance
- US DOJ releases superseding indictment against Maduro, wife, son, and cartel leader
- Charges include narco-terrorism, drug importation, and weapons possession
- Plane carrying cartel leader landed in New York Saturday, triggering Caracas attacks and arrests
- Why it matters: The indictment escalates US legal pressure on Venezuela’s regime and signals a shift in enforcement strategy
On Saturday, the U.S. Department of Justice unveiled a superseding indictment that names Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, their son Nicolásito, and cartel figure Niño Guerrero. The document accuses the group of a decade-long drug trafficking and weapons conspiracy and follows the arrival of a plane carrying the cartel leader in New York.
Superseding Indictment Details
The indictment lays out four counts: narco-terrorism conspiracy; conspiracy to import cocaine; possession of machine guns and destructive devices; and conspiracy to possess those weapons. It names Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, Cilia Flores, Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, and Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero, known as Niño Guerrero, as defendants.
- Nicolás Maduro
- Cilia Flores
- Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra
- Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero (Niño Guerrero)
- Diosdado Cabello
- Ramón Rodríguez Chacín
Context and Escalation
The charges build on a 2020 indictment that linked the Venezuelan executive branch to FARC-affiliated drug trafficking. Since 1999, prosecutors allege the regime has moved about 250 tons of cocaine per year to the U.S. through the Caribbean and Central America.
The new indictment also cites that for over 25 years leaders have abused public trust to corrupt institutions and import cocaine, and that Maduro used diplomatic passports to facilitate drug traffic and money laundering.
Reactions and Aftermath
Pam Bondi stated:
> ‘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.’
William Barr noted:
> ‘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”…’
Ariana Fajardo Orshan added:
> ‘I have a message for high-ranking members of Chavismo: The party is coming to an end.’
Following the indictment, Caracas saw attacks in several neighborhoods and the arrest of Maduro and Flores, marking a turning point in the regime’s legal exposure.
Key Takeaways
- The indictment expands charges against Venezuela’s top leaders and a cartel figure.
- It links the regime to a long-running drug trafficking and weapons conspiracy.
- The arrival of the cartel leader’s plane and subsequent attacks signal escalating enforcement and domestic unrest.
The new indictment marks a turning point in US efforts to hold Venezuela’s leadership accountable.
