Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores face new torture charges in US court

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been hit with additional criminal charges in the United States, specifically for conspiracy to commit torture. Filed in a Manhattan federal court, the superseding indictment alleges that the couple tortured political opponents to maintain their power in Venezuela. These new charges add to existing accusations of drug trafficking previously leveled against them.

Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, have been in U.S. custody since January 3, 2026, when they were apprehended by the U.S. military in a surprise raid at their residence in Caracas. Following their removal from power after 13 years of Maduro’s administration, the country has moved toward increased cooperation with Washington under the leadership of Delcy Rodriguez. The couple is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, having pleaded not guilty to the initial drug charges. Their trial is set to commence on June 1, 2027.

Legal proceedings remain ongoing, with Cilia Flores scheduled for a court appearance to request release from jail citing health concerns. The escalation of legal action against the pair represents a significant shift in U.S.-Venezuelan relations, focusing on human rights violations in addition to narcotics-related offenses.