Maduro Faces New US Charges Over Alleged Torture of American Prisoners

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are expected to file additional charges against former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores this week, according to CBS, an American partner of the BBC.

The new accusations allege that the couple directed the torture of several Americans who were wrongfully detained in Venezuelan‑run prisons. Prosecutors claim that while Maduro and Flores were already facing drug‑trafficking and weapons charges, this new layer focuses on human‑rights abuses.

In a dramatic nighttime raid on 3 January 2026, Venezuelan forces seized Maduro and Flores from their compound in Caracas and transported them to New York. They were flown via helicopter to a federal courthouse where they appeared for initial proceedings. Their attorneys maintain they have not received notice of the new indictment.

The extradition and initial charges stem from the 2020 indictment that linked the dual‑national leaders to a cocaine‑trafficking conspiracy and ties with cartels designated as terrorist groups. Those charges included narco‑terrorism conspiracy, cocaine‑importation conspiracy, and possession of destructive devices.

Maduro’s legal team has asked the court to dismiss the charges on the grounds that, as the head of a sovereign state, he is immune from prosecution. They also claim that the seizure was illegal. The judge has yet to consider these arguments.

Flores, who is also scheduled to appear for a bond hearing on Thursday, faces drug trafficking and weapons charges in addition to the torture allegations. The combined trial for both figures is set for June 2027 in Manhattan.