Maduro to face ‘full wrath of American justice’, says US attorney general Bondi

Bondi vows full American justice

The Trump administration said on Saturday that captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife will face prosecution in the United States on drug trafficking and terrorism-related charges, with Attorney General Pamela Bondi vowing they would face “the full wrath of American justice”.

In a post on X, Bondi said Maduro and his wife — who Washington says were removed from Venezuela by US forces following a military operation — would be tried in American courts. “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” she wrote.

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess…

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 3, 2026

Bondi said the couple face existing charges in federal court in New York, including “Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy” and “Cocaine Importation Conspiracy”. Maduro has long been accused by US authorities of leading what they describe as the Cartel of the Suns, a drug trafficking network allegedly linked to senior Venezuelan officials.

The statement came hours after President Donald Trump claimed that US forces had captured Maduro during what he described as a “large scale strike” on Venezuela. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.”

“This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement,” Trump added, speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he is spending the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

US media outlets reported that the operation involved elite American forces. According to those reports, Delta Force troops seized the Venezuelan leader as explosions were reported in Caracas. Trump is scheduled to provide further details at a press conference at 11:00 am (1600 GMT).

In a brief phone interview with The New York Times, Trump praised the operation, saying: “It was a brilliant operation, actually.” He added: “A lot of good planning and lot of great, great troops and great people.” The newspaper reported that Trump did not answer a question on whether he had sought congressional approval for the operation.

Maduro and his wife both face long-standing US allegations tied to drug trafficking and terrorism, which Washington has used to justify a months-long pressure campaign against Venezuela’s leftist government. The indictment against Maduro was filed in 2020, while charges against his wife had not previously been made public.

In August, Trump doubled the US reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture to $50 million, accusing him of running the alleged drug trafficking organisation. US officials have repeatedly said the Venezuelan government has facilitated cocaine smuggling into the United States, a claim Caracas has consistently denied.

The reported capture follows months of escalating US military and economic pressure on Venezuela, including expanded naval deployments in the Caribbean, seizures of oil tankers and strikes on vessels accused of drug trafficking. Washington has framed its actions as part of a broader campaign against what it calls “narco-terrorism”, while critics warn the approach risks further destabilising the region.

Venezuela’s government has not issued an official response to Bondi’s statement or Trump’s claims. The situation remains fluid as international reactions continue to emerge and questions mount over the legal, diplomatic and regional consequences of the operation.