Nicolás Maduro is currently facing U.S. federal charges centered on narco‑terrorism and large‑scale cocaine trafficking , along with related weapons offenses.

Main Charges (Quick Scoop)

Most recent U.S. indictments describe Maduro as part of a long‑running conspiracy to move massive quantities of cocaine into the United States, allegedly using Venezuelan state power and security forces to protect those shipments. These are criminal accusations in U.S. courts; Maduro rejects them and portrays them as politically motivated.

The key U.S. charges reported include:

  • Narco‑terrorism conspiracy (conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism).
  • Conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States.
  • Cocaine trafficking / cocaine importation conspiracy , involving “thousands of tons” or “loads” of cocaine over more than two decades.
  • Possession of machine guns and destructive devices , and
  • Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices , allegedly in connection with protecting drug shipments and collaborating with armed groups.

U.S. prosecutors also allege he helped lead or work with the so‑called Cartel de los Soles and collaborated with armed groups like FARC to move drugs and weapons, framing this as both organized crime and terrorism‑linked activity.

Context and “Latest News”

  • Recent reporting in early 2026 says a new or superseding U.S. indictment mirrors earlier 2020 charges but is being highlighted again after a U.S. operation and his capture claim, and after the cartel network was labeled a terrorist organization.
  • The narrative from U.S. officials is that Venezuelan leaders, with Maduro “at the forefront,” abused public office for about 25 years to protect and profit from cocaine smuggling into the U.S.
  • Critics and some international observers question both the legal basis for extraterritorial actions and the political motivations, arguing the “Cartel de los Soles” is more a loose network of corrupt officials than a single coherent cartel.

Different Viewpoints

  • U.S. government position: Maduro is portrayed as a central figure in a narco‑terrorist enterprise that weaponized cocaine flows and armed groups against the United States.
  • Maduro and allies’ position: They deny the allegations, call them part of a regime‑change strategy, and argue that U.S. courts and prosecutors lack legitimacy to judge a sitting or former Venezuelan head of state.
  • Analysts and NGOs: Some human‑rights and geopolitical analysts emphasize his documented authoritarian abuses and corruption, but still debate whether U.S. narco‑terrorism indictments and military or covert actions are the right or lawful tools.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.