Nicolás Maduro is currently under U.S. federal indictment on multiple serious criminal charges, mainly tied to large‑scale cocaine trafficking and so‑called “narco‑terrorism.” These are U.S. charges; they do not by themselves determine his guilt, and he is legally presumed innocent unless proven otherwise in court.

Main charges in a nutshell

U.S. indictments (initially unveiled in 2020 and updated/superseded through 2025–2026) describe several core counts against Maduro:

  • Narco‑terrorism conspiracy
    U.S. prosecutors allege that Maduro helped lead a long‑running conspiracy to use cocaine trafficking as a weapon against the United States, working with the Colombian FARC and other groups the U.S. designates as terrorist organizations.
  • Cocaine importation conspiracy
    Indictments say Maduro and allies helped move “thousands of tons” of cocaine toward or into the U.S. over more than two decades, using state institutions and security forces to protect shipments.
  • Possession of machine guns and destructive devices
    He is charged with possessing, and conspiring to possess, military‑grade weapons and explosives in connection with the alleged drug‑trafficking and narco‑terrorism activities.
  • Related corruption and organized‑crime allegations
    U.S. documents portray him as a leader of the so‑called Cartel de los Soles —a network of senior Venezuelan officials allegedly using public office and the military to run narcotics and protect traffickers.

How U.S. prosecutors describe the scheme

According to U.S. filings and public summaries:

  • Maduro is accused of:
    • Using his government power to shield traffickers and secure routes through Venezuela.
* Coordinating with groups like FARC and criminal organizations in other countries to move large cocaine shipments north.

* Supplying or arranging military‑grade weapons for armed groups tied to the trade.
  • Some U.S. materials also claim he and close associates ordered violent acts—kidnappings, beatings, and murders—against people who allegedly threatened the drug business or owed drug money, though those details are part of broader narrative allegations, not always separate standalone counts.

Who else is named with him

The latest public descriptions of the superseding indictment indicate that several people close to Maduro are charged alongside him:

  • His wife, Cilia Flores, facing similar drug‑conspiracy and weapons‑related counts in the newer indictment.
  • His son and other senior Venezuelan officials, accused of helping run the trafficking network and protect the trade using their official posts.
  • Earlier U.S. indictments also targeted a wider circle of current and former officials for narco‑terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking tied to the same alleged network.

Legal and political context

  • Status of the case
    These are criminal accusations filed in U.S. federal courts; they have not yet resulted in a completed U.S. trial of Maduro, and the legal process would depend on the U.S. actually exercising custody and proceeding through arraignment, motions, and trial.
  • International and diplomatic angle
    U.S. officials have cited these indictments as part of the rationale for sanctions and, more recently, for U.S. military actions and the decision to bring Maduro to U.S. jurisdiction, which is heavily debated internationally.
  • Maduro’s side
    Maduro and his government have historically rejected the U.S. charges as politically motivated, portraying them as part of a broader campaign to undermine or remove his government; those counter‑claims appear regularly in Venezuelan and allied media, though they are not part of the U.S. court record.

Quick forum‑style takeaway

In forum discussions right now, “what are the charges against Maduro” usually refers to the U.S. indictments accusing him of leading a state‑linked cocaine‑trafficking and narco‑terrorism operation, plus related weapons and corruption counts.

People arguing against him point to the detailed U.S. narratives about the Cartel de los Soles and alleged cocaine shipments over decades, while supporters or skeptics frame the case as lawfare or regime‑change politics by Washington.

TL;DR: The main charges against Maduro in U.S. courts are narco‑terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession/conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices, all wrapped in a broader claim that he used the Venezuelan state to run a massive cocaine‑trafficking network.