Breaking: US files drug, terrorism charges against Venezuelan President Maduro

The United States of America has announced drug and terrorism charges against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following claims by President Donald Trump that US forces captured them in a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela.

Trump said the operation was carried out in coordination with US law enforcement. “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,” he said on Truth Social.

The US president also said he would hold a news conference at 11:00 a.m. (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida to provide further details.

Following the operation, Attorney General Pamela Bondi confirmed that Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. She said 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.

Bondi described the mission as “incredible and highly successful” and expressed gratitude to the US military for carrying it out. “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” she added.

The Attorney General also thanked President Trump for “having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American people,” highlighting the administration’s commitment to pursuing alleged international narco-traffickers.