By THE United States has announced drug trafficking and terrorism-related charges against Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, following claims by President Donald Trump that US forces captured the Venezuelan leader during what he described as a “large-scale strike”.
In a statement on Saturday, the Trump administration said the detained Venezuelan leader would face what it called “the full wrath of American justice”.
US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said on X that Mr Maduro and his wife, who Washington claims were removed from Venezuela by US military forces, would be prosecuted in American courts.
According to Bondi, the couple face longstanding charges in a federal court in New York, including allegations of narco-terrorism conspiracy and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States.
The announcement came shortly after President Trump claimed that US forces had carried out a major military operation in Venezuela, resulting in Mr Maduro’s capture.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the operation was conducted in collaboration with US law enforcement agencies.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” Trump wrote.
He added that he would address the development at a news conference scheduled for 11:00 a.m. local time (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he has been spending the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
The claims have further heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas, amid long-running diplomatic hostility and previous US sanctions against the Venezuelan government.
Venezuelan authorities had not immediately responded to the latest US statements at the time of filing this report.
SOURCE: AFP
