Former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro could face new torture charges

In short:

The former president of Venezuela is expected to face new charges.

Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and brought to the US on drug trafficking charges in January.

What's next?

The new charges are expected to be laid as soon as Thursday, local time.

Former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are expected to face new criminal charges in the United States over allegations that Americans detained in Venezuela were tortured, US officials say.

Mr Maduro, who led Venezuela for 13 years, and Ms Flores, were captured in an US military operation from their home in Caracas In January, and brought to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

Mr Maduro, 63, and Ms Flores, 69, have pleaded not guilty and their trial is expected to begin in June.

According to CNN, which has cited people familiar with the investigation, the new torture charges relate to the alleged wrongful detention of more than a dozen US citizens in Venezuela during Mr Maduro's rule.

The report said prosecutors were also considering charging several other people for their alleged role in torturing Americans.

CNN said charges could be announced as soon as Thursday, local time.

A spokesperson for the Manhattan US Attorney's office, which brought the charges, declined to comment.

Lawyers for Mr Maduro and Ms Flores did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Escalating tensions with US before capture

Mr Maduro's tenure as president was marked by tensions with the United States.

Washington accused his government of detaining Americans as leverage to extract concessions, such as relief from financial sanctions.

Americans whom the US classified as wrongfully detained during Maduro's tenure included five oil executives arrested on graft charges.

They were freed in 2022 in exchange for two of Ms Flores's nephews who had been convicted in the US of drug trafficking.

Since Mr Maduro's capture, Venezuela has been led by his former vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, who has increased cooperation with the Trump administration.

The pair have been detained in a federal jail in Brooklyn, New York.

Ms Flores is due to appear in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, local time, where her lawyers are expected to request her release from jail before the trial, due to health reasons.

Prosecutors oppose her release.

Reuters/AFP