In January 2026, the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the US, did not revise its claims that Nicolás Maduro led a drug cartel; rather, it has expanded and reinforced them through a newly unsealed superseding indictment.
Following Maduro’s capture in a U.S. military operation on January 3, 2026, the DOJ released an updated indictment that maintains and adds detail to the 2020 narco-terrorism charges. Key developments include:
- Expanded Charges: The updated indictment traces Maduro’s alleged drug trafficking involvement back 25 years (1999–2025). It reaffirms his role as the leader of the “Cartel of the Suns” (Cartel de los Soles), a network composed of high-ranking Venezuelan officials.
- New Defendants: The DOJ added Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, and his son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, to the criminal case, alleging they also profited from and facilitated the drug trade.
- Specific Allegations: The DOJ continues to claim that Maduro partnered with foreign terrorist organizations and cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, Tren de Aragua, and Colombian guerrilla groups, to move hundreds of tons of cocaine into the U.S. annually.
- Court Status: Maduro pleaded not guilty to these charges in a Manhattan federal court on January 5, 2026. Attorney General Pam Bondi has stated that Maduro will face the “full wrath of American justice”.
The official position of the DOJ remains that the Venezuelan government under Maduro was converted into a “criminal enterprise” at the service of drug traffickers.
