Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro might face capital punishment in the United States if convicted on charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, according to a recent report by the New York Post.
Following his capture on January 3 during a U.S. military operation in Caracas, Maduro is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, awaiting his appearance in a federal court in New York.
Under the Controlled Substances Act, the death penalty can be imposed on anyone found guilty of running a "continuing criminal enterprise" connected to drug trafficking.
While executions for drug-related crimes are rare in the federal justice system, the legal framework does allow for such penalties, particularly when the crimes are linked to armed groups or international terrorism.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, "will face the full force of American justice," though she did not specify the type of sentence the Department of Justice would seek.
The indictment includes four charges: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and two counts of machine gun possession. This new indictment expands on the case opened in 2020, when a federal court had already identified Maduro as the leader of the Cartel of the Suns, an organization accused of using the Venezuelan state apparatus to smuggle large quantities of drugs into the United States.
The case, likened to that of Manuel Noriega in 1989, sets a precedent in Washington's foreign policy toward Latin America. If the conviction is upheld, it could initiate a new judicial phase where the death penalty, though infrequent, would be seen as a deterrent.
Maduro is scheduled to appear before the judge at noon on Monday.
Key Questions on Nicolás Maduro's Legal Battle in the U.S.
What charges is Nicolás Maduro facing in the United States?
Maduro is facing charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and two counts of machine gun possession.
Could Nicolás Maduro face the death penalty?
Yes, under the Controlled Substances Act, the death penalty is a potential sentence for those convicted of running a "continuing criminal enterprise" linked to drug trafficking.
How does this case compare to historical precedents?
This case is being compared to that of Manuel Noriega in 1989, marking a significant precedent in U.S. foreign policy towards Latin America.