The Trump administration said that Venezuela’s captured leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife will face “the full wrath of American justice” under drug and terrorism charges.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi posted on X that Mr Maduro and his wife – who were earlier removed from Venezuela by the US military, according to Washington – “will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts”.
Ms Bondi recalled the Maduros face charges in New York federal court on existing “narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy” charges.
Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 3, 2026
US President Donald Trump said earlier that the United States had captured President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flown them out of the country.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country”, Mr Trump said in a Truth Social post.
Nicolas Maduro gestures next to his wife, Cilia Flores, during a rally to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Santa Ines, in Caracas on 10 December last year
Earlier President Maduro declared a state of emergency and the government called for “mobilisation” of the population after a US “attack”.
Venezuela said it rejected “military aggression” by the United States.
Attacks took place in the capital of Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, the statement said, prompting Mr Maduro to declare a national emergency and call on social and political forces to “activate mobilisation plans”.
The government called the attacks an “extremely serious military aggression” by the United States on the capital Caracas.
“Venezuela rejects, repudiates, and denounces before the international community the extremely serious military aggression perpetrated by the current government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and people,” Mr Maduro’s government said.
Airplanes and loud noises could be heard and a column of smoke was visible in Caracas, Reuters witnesses said, while power was out in the south of the Venezuelan capital, near a major military base.
The incident began at about 2am (6am Irish time). Videos circulating on social media showed multiple explosions across Caracas.
Reuters could not immediately verify the videos.
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President Trump has repeatedly promised land operations in Venezuela. He has not publicly detailed his aims, but has privately pressured President Maduro to flee the nation, Reuters has reported.
Mr Trump said on Monday it would be “smart” for Mr Maduro to leave power.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, a US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the United States is carrying out strikes inside Venezuela.
The official did not provide details.
The US has made a major military build-up in the region, including an aircraft carrier, warships and advanced fighter jets stationed in the Caribbean.
Mr Trump has announced a “blockade” of Venezuelan oil, expanded sanctions and staged more than two dozen strikes on vessels the US alleges were involved in trafficking drugs in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Last week, Mr Trump said the United States had “hit” an area in Venezuela where boats are loaded with drugs, marking the first known time Washington has carried out land operations in Venezuela since the pressure campaign began.
He did not say whether those strikes were carried out by the CIA or not. Other media outlets have reported that the spy agency was behind them.
Mr Trump has accused the South American country of flooding the US with drugs, and his administration has for months been bombing boats originating in South America that it alleges were carrying drugs.
Many nations have condemned the attacks as extrajudicial killings and Mr Maduro’s government has always denied any involvement with drug trafficking.