DOJ formally charges Maduro and his wife after they were captured in Venezuela following U.S. strike

"They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts," Bondi says

Published: January 3, 2026 7:38am

Updated: January 3, 2026 8:59am

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Saturday that Venezuela leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York.  

"Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States," she wrote on X.

"They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, 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 military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers," she added.

Trump announced Maduro's capture on Saturday morning, describing the operation as a "large scale strike."

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