Sun Jan 04 08:43:56 UTC 2026: ## Summary:
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been captured by the US. Simultaneously, federal prosecutors in New York have unveiled indictments detailing how the Venezuelan government was allegedly transformed into a major center for cocaine trafficking.
News Article:
Maduro Captured, U.S. Unseals Drug Trafficking Indictment Against Venezuelan Government
NEW YORK, NY – In a stunning development, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are now in U.S. custody. The capture was followed swiftly by the unsealing of federal indictments in New York, alleging the Venezuelan government, under Maduro’s leadership, morphed into a hub for international cocaine trafficking.
The indictments, brought by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, detail a complex scheme wherein the Venezuelan government allegedly facilitated the production and distribution of cocaine, profiting significantly from the illicit trade. The charges paint a picture of systemic corruption, accusing high-ranking Venezuelan officials of actively participating in drug smuggling operations.
The timing of the indictments, coinciding with Maduro’s capture, suggests a coordinated effort by U.S. authorities to dismantle what they describe as a narco-state. The details of the capture remain unclear, but the unsealed charges are expected to further destabilize the already volatile political situation in Venezuela.
The U.S. Justice Department is expected to hold a press conference later today to provide more information on the investigation and the evidence supporting the indictments. The arrest of Maduro and the unveiling of these charges mark a significant escalation in the already strained relationship between the United States and Venezuela.
First Piper 