The President of the United States, Donald Trump, detailed this Saturday in a conference from Mar-a-Lago the crimes for which his government accuses Nicolás Maduro, who was captured during a military operation in Venezuela.
The leader listed charges of drug trafficking, armed conspiracy, and ties to criminal organizations such as the Tren de Aragua.
"Maduro released assassins and criminals from his prisons, allowed the Tren de Aragua to operate out of control, and sent drugs and drug traffickers to flood the United States," Trump stated.
"He has committed crimes against his own people and against ours. It was about time he faced justice," he added.
The president specified that the U.S. forces had prepared the operation for several days and waited for the exact conditions to act.
"Maduro was in a fortress with steel doors and security rooms. He tried to take refuge, but was captured in seconds," said Trump, who stated that there were no casualties among U.S. troops.
A few hours after the capture, the Attorney General of the United States, Pam Bondi, confirmed the formal charges against Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, through a statement published on her official X account (formerly Twitter).
“Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been charged in the Southern District of New York. They are accused of narcoterrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and association with armed organizations against the United States,” wrote Bondi.
The Attorney General highlighted that both will "face the wrath of U.S. justice on American soil and in U.S. courts," and she thanked President Trump "for his courage to hold them accountable on behalf of the American people" and the armed forces "for carrying out an incredible and successful mission."
The Department of Justice reminded that the case against Maduro dates back to March 2020, when federal prosecutors accused him of leading the Cartel de los Soles, an alleged network of high-ranking Venezuelan officials involved in drug trafficking to the United States and in criminal ties with the FARC.
Among the accusations, the following stand out: international narco-terrorism, conspiracy to introduce cocaine into U.S. territory, and association with illegal armed groups for criminal purposes. According to the indictment, Maduro allegedly facilitated air and maritime routes for cocaine trafficking through the Caribbean.
The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, confirmed that Maduro "will face a criminal trial in the United States" and that the military operation carried out in Caracas had the sole purpose of ensuring the capture of the Chavista leader.
“No new military actions are expected. The mission has been successfully completed,” Rubio specified in statements quoted by Republican Senator Mike Lee.
Lee defended the legality of the military action, asserting that "it falls within the presidential authority to protect American personnel from imminent attacks."
He added that Congress will be informed of the next judicial and diplomatic steps. Maduro is reported to have been transferred to New York to face justice along with his wife Cilia Flores.
With the capture of Maduro, the United States opens one of the most significant judicial proceedings in recent decades against a head of state accused of international crimes.
In the coming hours, the Department of Justice will need to define the preliminary hearings and the detention regime of the Venezuelan leader.
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