Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face new charges in the US, accused of overseeing a repressive political system and violence against over 12 American citizens detained in Venezuelan prisons, according to FBI Director Christopher Wray's statement, as reported by ABC News. Maduro and Flores have been held in a New York prison since their contentious arrest in early January, following a US military operation within Venezuelan territory that resulted in their abduction and transfer to the US.
The US Attorney General accuses Maduro of leading a narcoterrorism partnership with armed groups for over two decades, with four main charges, including conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism aimed at flooding the US with cocaine. The charges also involve conspiracy to import cocaine through the "Sun Cartel," comprising top Venezuelan military leaders, and possessing heavy weapons to protect drug shipments. A federal court has since held two judicial sessions.
In a new development, prosecutors have filed a 30-page indictment, adding charges of conspiracy to commit torture to the existing allegations against the couple, citing the Venezuelan military, intelligence agencies, and security forces. The investigations and attached evidence document direct supervision by the previous regime's leadership on using harsh methods to intimidate opponents and arbitrarily detain individuals.
The allegations detail the use of electric shocks, isolation, and physical and psychological abuse against detainees to ensure the regime's continued hold on power. Prosecutors claim Maduro received regular reports on interrogations and ordered officials to intensify abuses. During a briefing on a rebellious prisoner, Maduro allegedly told officials to "press them harder."
The indictment also alleges Maduro proposed kidnapping five to seven suspected disloyal military officers during the 2014 political unrest, extracting information through torture, with Flores agreeing to the proposal. The charges include cases involving an American citizen arrested in 2022 who received a lethal injection causing seizures and another American detained in 2023 who was severely beaten and tortured.
During the trial, Maduro's lawyer requested a postponement of the arraignment on the new charges, citing late receipt of the indictment, which the judge granted. However, the judge denied the defense's request for temporary release of Cilia Flores on bail due to health concerns.
The US judge, Henry J. Ricardo, in the Southern District of New York, emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and the strength of the presented evidence, setting new dates for hearings on the additional charges against Maduro and his wife.
Key points
- Maduro faces charges of conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism and torture.
- The charges involve allegations of violence against over 12 American citizens detained in Venezuelan prisons.
- Maduro and his wife have been held in a New York prison since their arrest in January.
