The criminal charges against Nicolás Maduro and others in his circle are filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where the U.S. Attorney’s office accuses him of narcoterrorism and systemic corruption.
The formal indictment outlines serious criminal charges against Maduro and his close circle—his wife, Cilia Flores, his son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, and the leader of the Tren de Aragua, Héctor Guerrero Flores. It claims that the defendants lead the Cartel of the Suns, designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), which allegedly transformed Venezuela into a narcoterrorism-enabling state for over two decades.
According to prosecutors, Maduro’s regime actively collaborated with armed groups like the FARC and ELN to transport tons of cocaine to U.S. territory. Aside from drug trafficking, the charges also include related crimes involving the use of war weapons and destructive devices to protect their illicit operations.
It is asserted that these officials abused their public positions to launder money and establish a politically funded power base through organized crime. If found guilty, the implicated individuals could face asset forfeiture and severe penalties under U.S. criminal justice law.
The Criminal Charges Against Maduro and His Circle
A Grand Jury in the Southern District of New York issued a formal indictment detailing a large-scale and long-lasting criminal conspiracy allegedly led by high-ranking officials of the Venezuelan regime headed by Nicolás Maduro Moros, along with his family and key associates.
The indictment refers to how, for over 25 years, these individuals systematically abused their power to transform Venezuela into a narco-state, facilitating the import of thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States directly collaborating with some of the world’s most violent narcoterrorist organizations.
The main charges include conspiracy for narcoterrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and related crimes involving the use and possession of war weaponry, such as machine guns and destructive devices. It also describes a corruption network known as the “Cartel of the Suns,” through which the Venezuelan political and military elite enrich themselves and consolidate their power.
The indictment presents specific acts involving the use of state resources—such as diplomatic passports, airports, and state-owned aircraft—to protect and execute drug trafficking operations in alliance with the FARC, ELN, Sinaloa Cartel, Los Zetas, and Tren de Aragua.
The indictment not only implicates Maduro and his inner circle but also points to his wife, Cilia Flores, his son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, and Tren de Aragua leader, Héctor Guerrero Flores, as direct participants in the conspiracy.
The Cartel of the Suns
The criminal indictment against Nicolás Maduro establishes that Venezuelan leaders corrupted legitimate institutions for their personal benefit and for the advantage of criminal organizations. This structure of corruption is known as the “Cartel of the Suns,” referencing the sun insignias worn by high-ranking military officials in Venezuela.
Under this patronage system, civilian, military, and intelligence officials enriched themselves by facilitating drug trafficking. Since around 1999, Venezuela, due to its strategic geographical location, became a safe haven for drug traffickers. The Venezuelan regime is said to have provided protection in exchange for bribes, allowing cocaine produced in Colombia to be sent from Venezuela to transshipment points in Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico, with the final destination being the United States.
The U.S. State Department estimated that by 2020, between 200 and 250 tons of cocaine were trafficked annually through Venezuela.
Main Defendants and Their Roles
The criminal indictment against Nicolás Maduro focuses on a group of individuals allegedly holding key positions in the criminal structure.
AccusedAliasCharges and Role in the Conspiracy
Nicolás Maduro MorosDe Facto Ruler of Venezuela. Accused of leading corruption by using all of his public positions (National Assembly member, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and President) to facilitate drug trafficking. It is alleged that he sold diplomatic passports to traffickers, provided cover for flights that repatriated illicit profits, and protected narcoterrorist groups.
Diosdado Cabello RondónMinister of Interior, Justice and Peace, and Vice President of PSUV. Considered one of the most powerful officials. Accused of coordinating massive cocaine shipments (from 5 to 20 tons per container) in alliance with Los Zetas and receiving million-dollar bribes to ensure the impunity of the operators.
Ramón Rodríguez ChacínFormer Minister of Interior and Justice. Accused of maintaining a close relationship with the FARC, which allowed a camp with approximately 200 armed members on his property in Barinas state and acted as an intermediary between the group and Maduro.
Cilia Adela Flores de MaduroDe Facto First Lady of Venezuela. Implicated in receiving bribes to organize meetings between traffickers and high-ranking anti-drug officials. It is alleged that she trafficked cocaine alongside Maduro and that her relatives attempted to obtain USD 20 million in drug profits for her political campaign.
Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra“Nicolasito,” “El Príncipe”Son of Nicolás Maduro and National Assembly member. Accused of using a PDVSA state aircraft to transport drugs from Isla de Margarita and negotiating directly with FARC representatives to coordinate the trafficking of cocaine and weapons to the U.S.
Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores“Niño Guerrero”Leader of Tren de Aragua (TDA). Accused of providing armed protection (AK-47s, MP5s, AR-15s, and grenades) for large cocaine shipments. From Tocorón prison, he offered TDA’s logistical and security services to protect shipments of over a ton of cocaine.
Strategic Alliances with Narcoterrorist Organizations
A cornerstone of the indictment is the symbiosis between the Venezuelan regime and various organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) by the U.S. State Department.
FARC and ELN:
These groups control cocaine production in Colombia. According to the indictment, Maduro’s regime provided them with safe refuge, protection, weapons, and logistical support on Venezuelan soil in exchange for a share of the profits.
Sinaloa Cartel and Los Zetas (CDN):
These Mexican organizations control the trafficking routes in Central America and the transit of drugs to the United States. It is alleged that they directly worked with Venezuelan officials to coordinate large-scale cocaine shipments.
Tren de Aragua (TDA):
This transnational criminal organization, originating from a Venezuelan prison, was responsible for logistics and security within Venezuela, controlling the coast of Aragua state to facilitate the maritime exit of drug shipments.
Key Evidence of the Conspiracy
The criminal indictment details a series of specific acts committed by the accused to promote the conspiracy.
Below are the most noteworthy:
2003-2011: Diosdado Cabello, in collaboration with Los Zetas, coordinated the shipment of maritime containers with between 5 and 20 tons of cocaine each from Venezuelan ports to Mexico.
2004-2015: Maduro and Cilia Flores led an operation to traffic cocaine, often seized beforehand by law enforcement, using military escorts and colectivo groups.
2006: Cabello and Hugo Carvajal Barrios coordinated the shipment of more than 5.5 tons of cocaine on a DC-9 from the presidential hangar at Maiquetía Airport. After the seizure in Mexico, Cabello received a bribe of approximately USD 2,500,000 to protect those involved.
2006-2008: While serving as Foreign Minister, Maduro sold diplomatic passports to drug traffickers and used diplomatic cover to facilitate the return of drug profits from Mexico to Venezuela.
2007: Cilia Flores accepted “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in bribes to mediate a meeting between a trafficker and the director of the Venezuelan National Anti-Drug Office, Néstor Reverol.
2008: Ramón Rodríguez Chacín harbored an FARC camp with 200 armed members on his property and accepted bribes to protect a trafficker from extradition.
September 2013: After the seizure of 1.3 tons of cocaine on a commercial flight from Maiquetía to Paris, Maduro reprimanded Cabello and Carvajal for using that airport and ordered them to use safer routes.
2014-2015: Nicolás Maduro Guerra used a PDVSA Falcon 900 aircraft to transport suspicious packages believed to be drugs from Isla de Margarita.
November 2015: Two relatives of Cilia Flores, Efraín Campo Flores and Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas, were arrested after negotiating the shipment of cocaine from the presidential hangar at Maiquetía to raise USD 20 million for Flores’s electoral campaign. They were convicted in New York in 2016.
2017: Maduro Guerra coordinated cocaine shipments to Miami and New York, discussing using scrap containers to hide the drugs.
2019: Héctor “Niño” Guerrero, leader of the TDA, offered from Tocorón prison to protect over a ton of cocaine on the Aragua coast.
2020: Maduro Guerra met in Medellín with FARC representatives to organize cocaine and weapons trafficking to the U.S. until 2026.
2022-2024: Cabello regularly visited clandestine airstrips controlled by the ELN at the border to supervise the safe passage of cocaine.
Formal Charges and Forfeiture Allegations
The Grand Jury presented four formal charges against the accused.
ChargeLegal DescriptionAccused
Charge OneNarcoterrorism Conspiracy: Conspiring to provide material support or resources to designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).
Maduro, Cabello, Rodríguez Chacín.
Charge TwoConspiracy to Import Cocaine: Conspiring to import, manufacture, and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine intending it to enter the U.S.
All six accused.
Charge ThreePossession of Machine Guns and Destructive Devices: Using, carrying, and possessing machine guns and destructive devices during and in relation to a narcotics offense.
All six accused.
Charge FourConspiracy to Possess Machine Guns and Destructive Devices: Conspiring to commit the crime described in Charge Three.
All six accused.
Additionally, the U.S. government seeks the forfeiture of all assets and profits obtained directly or indirectly as a result of these offenses. This includes a Substitute Asset Provision, allowing the government to seize other properties of the accused up to the value of the illicit assets if they cannot be found, have been transferred to third parties, or have depreciated in value.