Maduro, wife Flores charged with narco-terrorism in Manhattan court

President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face a “worst-case scenario” as a married couple entrenched in Venezuelan politics are detained in the United States ahead of their Jan. 5 trial, according to a national security expert.

Maduro and Flores, who have been married for 13 years, were arrested in Caracas during a night operation on January 3 and detained in the United States, where federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against both, authorities said.

“That’s the worst-case scenario for them, that they’re not in power but in the custody of the U.S. government.” Roxanna Seizure he told Fox News Digital.

“They are husband and wife, but there is also a political component because their political futures are also tied together,” the Council on Foreign Relations member said. he added.

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Maduro, 63, is charged with four crimes: narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

Flores, 69, was indicted on three charges: conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

Flores first came to attention in 1994, when, as a lawyer, she defended Hugo Chavez after his failed coup attempt in 1992.

After Chavez was elected, he took a seat in the National Assembly in 2000, then succeeded Maduro as president of the National Assembly, and later served as Venezuela’s attorney general from 2012 to 2013 under both men.

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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro gestures alongside his wife Cilia Flores as they leave the Capitolio, home of the National Assembly, after being sworn in during the presidential inauguration in Caracas on January 10, 2025. (Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images)

“Cilia is extremely politically savvy and one of the most important insiders in building and advancing Chavez’s revolutionary project,” Vigil said. “He is very committed to the Chavista movement, which is at a low point but is likely to survive this crisis. The future of Venezuela will depend on whether there is a transition to democracy or whether a Chavista remains in power.”

“Cilia Flores is one of the original Chavistas because she was part of Hugo Chavez’s inner circle before he became president in the early ’90s,” he added.

Flores met Maduro while working closely with Chavez. At the time, Maduro described him as having a “fiery character.” According to Reuters.

The two did not marry until nearly two decades after their first meeting after Maduro was elected president in 2013.

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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores arrive at the National Assembly for the swearing-in ceremony for the third term in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 10, 2025. (Matias Delacroix, File/AP Photo)

Accordingly reportscritics called Flores “Lady Macbeth”.

“Maduro has been an effective advisor since he took over in Venezuela and has been more behind the scenes than in the Chavez years, but he has still been a very effective political operative,” Vigil explained.

“His family members have been involved in different criminal activities, including US crimes, and this includes his two nephews,” he added.

Flores’ influence also extended to Maduro’s efforts to maintain control after the opposition won a majority in the National Assembly in 2015.

Rather than allowing the opposition-led legislature to function, Maduro has moved to create a parallel body that would assume the legislature’s powers.

“He also had a role in the Maduro government, particularly in efforts to undermine the democratically elected 2015 National Assembly,” Vigil said.

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Government supporters display posters of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, right, and former President Hugo Chávez in downtown Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Maduro was captured and flown out of the country. (Matias Delacroix/AP)

“Cilia Flores was part of that effort, and that was highlighted when she was confirmed by the U.S. government in 2018,” Vigil said. “In my opinion, Cilia was not running for president or to take on an official role; she already had significant influence.”

“On some level, I think Maduro believes that he is in the best position to continue Hugo Chavez’s revolutionary project and that it is important for him to continue that project.”

President Trump this week addressed Maduro’s capture, warning that it would lead to serious consequences for the Venezuelan leader and signaling a tough approach against the regime.

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As previously reported Fox News DigitalTrump said the United States would temporarily govern Venezuela “until we can have a safe, appropriate and reasonable transition.”

But Vigil emphasizes that the president has not made public plans for Flores. “President Trump didn’t mention anything about it yesterday, so it’s unclear what the plan is for Cilia,” Vigil said.

“Secretary Rubio said that he turned down Maduro’s generous offers to leave, but at the same time he did not mention Cilia, why he was chosen along with Maduro and what role he played in these negotiations. Cilia was also not indicted in 2020, when Maduro was first indicted,” Vigil said. he said.

“President Trump’s rhetoric against Maduro over the last four months does not include Cilia,” he explained.

On Sunday, Rubio said in an interview: with ABC: “I encourage everyone, I know it’s Sunday, people are busy. But the indictments are now unsealed. People should read this indictment. They should read this indictment. Let them read what this man did for 15 years – the last 15 years of his life – what he and his wife did against the United States.”

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Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed that message on social media, writing on X that Maduro and Flores “will soon face the full wrath of American justice in American courts on American soil,” calling them “two alleged international drug traffickers.”