US court files new charges against former Venezuelan dictator Maduro and his wife

The United States Justice filed new charges against former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

Justice Department prosecutors filed the new charges against Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a New York court.

“Maduro, Flores and other Venezuelan leaders attempted to silence the political opposition through assassinations and threats to kill victims’ family members, electric shocks, asphyxiation, food deprivation, punishment cells, beatings and rape,” said federal prosecutor James M. McDonald.

The new complaint adds to the four crimes to which Maduro and Cilia are already responding:

narco-terrorism conspiracy;

conspiracy to import cocaine;

possession of and conspiracy to obtain machine guns and other weapons.

US court files new charges against former Venezuelan dictator Maduro and his wife — Photo: Jornal Nacional/ Reproduction

If convicted, they could face life in prison. Maduro and Cilia pleaded not guilty to all charges. The defense argues that the two should not be tried in an American court because they are rulers of a foreign country.

The American Armed Forces captured the couple in an operation inside Venezuela on January 3, 2026. Since then, Maduro and Cilia have been in a detention center in Brooklyn, New York, awaiting trial. The start was scheduled for June 1, 2027.

In a hearing this Thursday (8), Cilia's lawyer asked that, until then, she can remain under house arrest in New York to treat health problems. The judge denied the request.