The United States government has announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife will face drug trafficking and terrorism-related charges, with senior officials vowing that the pair will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of American law.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Maduro and his wife—whom U.S. authorities claim were recently removed from Venezuela by American forces—“will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil, in American courts.”
Bondi disclosed that the couple is already facing longstanding charges in a federal court in New York, including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy.
The announcement followed remarks by President Donald Trump, who earlier claimed that U.S. forces had captured Maduro after launching what he described as a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He added that the operation was conducted in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies.
President Trump further announced plans to address the development at a news conference scheduled for 11:00 a.m. (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he is spending the final days of a two-week Christmas and New Year holiday.
The announcement marks a dramatic escalation in U.S.–Venezuela relations and is expected to trigger significant international reactions.
