Nicolás Maduro set to face US court in New York on drug and arms charges

“The Daily Baku” reports that, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody during a surprise early-morning operation at a compound on Saturday, carried out amid a broader assault on Caracas. According to the New York Times, at least 40 people, including civilians and members of Venezuela’s armed forces, were killed during the operation.

US prosecutors allege that Maduro led what they describe as a corrupt and illegitimate regime that used state authority for decades to shield and advance criminal activities, particularly narcotics trafficking.

The arrests followed months of escalating pressure from Washington, including US strikes on vessels accused of transporting drugs. Those operations reportedly resulted in more than 110 deaths, prompting some legal experts to question whether the actions could constitute violations of international law.

In the lead-up to the raid, US authorities also intercepted sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela’s coastline, while Donald Trump ordered a broader blockade on similar vessels, further tightening economic pressure on the oil-dependent country.

Maduro’s son and three additional individuals are also named in the indictment. Maduro, who was first charged during Trump’s initial term, faces multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, possession of automatic weapons and explosive devices, and related conspiracy charges.

Despite earlier pledges to avoid overseas conflicts, Trump stated that the United States would assume temporary control over Venezuela. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort, he said the US would oversee the country until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could be arranged.

Trump argued that allowing another leadership group to take power posed risks to Venezuelans, describing the military action as unprecedented in scale since the second world war.

Senior Democrats strongly criticized the intervention, calling it unlawful and damaging to US interests. Under the US constitution, only Congress has the authority to declare war, and the 1973 War Powers Resolution requires congressional approval for most military actions.

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut accused the administration of misleading lawmakers, referencing a December briefing by secretary of state Marco Rubio that framed the operation as a limited counter-narcotics effort rather than regime change.

Trump also announced plans for US companies to take charge of Venezuela’s oil sector, saying American energy firms would invest heavily to repair infrastructure and revive production. He warned that a second, larger military operation could follow if necessary.

Details of how Venezuela would be governed remain unclear. US forces do not appear to have full control of the country, and Maduro’s administration is still functioning.

Trump said the US would oversee Venezuela in coordination with selected partners and was appointing individuals to leadership roles. He also indicated that deploying ground troops was an option, stating that US forces were already operating on the ground at a high level and that Washington was prepared to do whatever it deemed necessary to ensure the country was “run properly.”