The US Attorney General has revealed the charges that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro now faces following the reports that he had been captured by the US military.
In a shock move, the capital city of Venezuela, Caracas, was struck in the early hours of Saturday by the US military.
Videos showing the military strikes have already started to pop up on social media, and not long after reports of the strikes, Trump took to Truth Social to confirm the US’ involvement and drop another bombshell – that President Maduro had been captured and taken out of the country, along with his wife.
Videos showing the military strikes on Venezuelan city Caracas
In the social media post he wrote: “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.
Trump confirmed the US attack and capture of the president in a Truth Social post (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
“This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has now confirmed that both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York.
Speaking of Maduro, she said he has been charged with ‘Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States’.
She added: “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.
The Venezuelan government has called for assuarance that the president is alive (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
“A huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers.”
Bondi did not note what charges Maduro’s wife faces.
Following the strikes, Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has said the government does not know the whereabouts of the president and has demanded the US shows ‘immediate proof of life’ for him and his wife.
As well as this, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López has revealed how the nation will respond to this apparent escalation by the US following months of tension.
López reportedly called for a united front of resistance in the face of the ‘worst aggression’ ever against the country.
He added that the nation was following ‘Maduro’s orders’ that all armed forces will be deployed.