U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded sharply to skeptics questioning the criminal nature of the Venezuelan regime. He highlighted that Nicolás Maduro was formally indicted by a federal grand jury in New York on charges of narcoterrorism and international drug trafficking.
“Maduro is deeply embedded in the drug trade. That's not my invention; it's a fact. He was indicted by a grand jury from the Southern District of New York in 2020, and this went undisputed until President Trump decided to take action,” Rubio stated during a recent interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.
Rubio criticized the left-wing factions attempting to “deny the undeniable,” emphasizing that the indictment is a judicial, not a political, document. “It's a federal document with proven charges and a $50 million reward for his capture,” he noted.
A Transnational Indictment
The indictment Rubio referenced was filed in March 2020 by the Southern District of New York's prosecutor, as reported by The New York Times. The 28-page document describes Maduro as the leader of the “Cartel of the Suns,” a network of military and political officials allegedly facilitating the transit of tons of cocaine from Colombia to the United States over two decades.
The indictment asserts that under Maduro's supervision, the cartel prioritized using cocaine as a weapon against the United States, in collaboration with the former Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC).
Venezuela's Legitimacy Questioned
Rubio stressed that Washington's actions are not arbitrary but part of a hemispheric anti-narcotics operation. “Maduro fears the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean because he knows it implicates him directly. Venezuela is not a legitimate state; it is a narcotrafficking transit organization,” he asserted.
The "Fugitive from U.S. Justice"
The Times reminded readers that the charges against Maduro include conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism, cocaine importation, and possession of weapons of war. These allegations could result in a life sentence.
Rubio labeled Maduro as “a fugitive from U.S. justice,” underscoring an irreversible shift in bilateral relations.
Amid the current regional crisis, Rubio linked Washington's diplomatic and military offensive to the necessity of curbing what he termed a “narco-dictatorship that has turned Venezuela into the operational base for Iran and terrorist organizations on the continent.”
Rubio's statement, issued during escalating tensions and as the White House considers new measures against Caracas, made it clear that the Trump administration views Maduro not only as a dictator but as an international criminal condemned by the U.S. justice system.
Key Questions on the Maduro Indictment
What charges has Nicolás Maduro been indicted on?
Nicolás Maduro has been indicted on charges of narcoterrorism, international drug trafficking, and possession of weapons of war, which could result in a life sentence.
What is the significance of the "Cartel of the Suns" mentioned in the indictment?
The "Cartel of the Suns" is described as a network of Venezuelan military and political officials that allegedly facilitated the transit of cocaine from Colombia to the United States over two decades, prioritizing the use of cocaine as a weapon against the U.S.
How has the U.S. government responded to the charges against Maduro?
The U.S. government has responded by integrating the indictment into a broader hemispheric anti-narcotics strategy, and Rubio emphasized that Maduro is considered a fugitive from U.S. justice.