Ousted Venezuelan Leader Nicolas Maduro Faces New US Torture Charges

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores face new US charges of conspiring to torture political opponents and American citizens.

Editorial Desk

October 15, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — New York, USA — Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are scheduled to appear in a United States courtroom this Thursday to address a fresh indictment. The legal filing accuses the couple of conspiring to torture political dissidents and American citizens.

The Justice Department unsealed a superseding indictment today, which formally charges Nicolás Maduro Moros and Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro with narcoterrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, weapons offenses, and the new count of conspiracy to commit torture. Prosecutors allege that Maduro personally directed officials to carry out acts of torture against opposition figures, with Flores reportedly providing support for these initiatives during a meeting held in 2014.

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Maduro, who governed Venezuela for 13 years, was apprehended alongside Flores by the U.S. military at their Caracas residence on January 3. Following their capture, the pair was transported to New York to face existing drug trafficking charges.

Should the couple be convicted on all counts, they face a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 50 years. The court has scheduled the trial to commence on June 1, 2027.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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