Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is on trial in the United States, has denied allegations of drug trafficking and colluding with criminal organizations. While the indictment contains serious accusations, it has emerged that the "Cartel de los Soles" — labeled a terrorist group under the Trump administration — does not in fact exist as a structured criminal organization.
After U.S. forces captured Maduro and brought him to New York, he appeared in federal court. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have pleaded not guilty and maintain their innocence.
What do the charges cover?
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Maduro, his wife, his son, and several senior associates allegedly led a years‑long drug trafficking network. The indictment includes accusations of cocaine shipment conspiracies, cooperation with criminal elements, illegal weapons possession, and associations with entities previously described as terrorist groups. Prosecutors claim Maduro used state institutions to protect cocaine shipments and that his family and close allies profited from these operations.
Maduro's lawyers argue that, as the head of a sovereign nation, he should have legal immunity. After his court appearance, Maduro described himself as a "kidnapped head of state."
Key development in the indictment
A notable change in the case is the removal of the explicit claim that Maduro led the "Cartel de los Soles." Earlier indictments and Trump administration statements had portrayed the cartel as a real drug trafficking organization. However, the new indictment reframes the term as a culture of corruption or patronage system involving Venezuelan elites enriched through drug trafficking, rather than a formal organized cartel.
Evidence and legal context
U.S. legal experts say that the indictment does not detail all of the evidence publicly, as key material remains classified or tied to intelligence sources — a common practice in complex narcotics cases. Some lawyers argue that Maduro's transfer to the U.S. may raise questions under international law, though his presence in the country does not preclude proceeding under U.S. law. The next court hearing is scheduled for March 17, and prosecutors are also seeking the seizure of the defendants' assets.
