U.S. Adds Torture Charges Against Maduro and Flores in Expanded Indictment

A federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York returned a superseding indictment on Thursday charging former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, with five counts including narcoterrorism, conspiracy to commit torture, and weapons offenses. The 30-page document alleges they presided over a repressive apparatus for more than 25 years, utilizing state security forces, the judiciary, and criminal groups like the FARC and Tren de Aragua to traffic cocaine and crush dissent.

Prosecutors say Maduro personally authorized torture methods such as electric shocks, beatings, asphyxiation, sleep deprivation, and forced nudity. The indictment quotes Maduro allegedly directing interrogators with phrases like "tighten him more" and "don't let him sleep." It also alleges he threatened to kill a detainee's son as psychological torture. Flores is accused of helping develop the repressive system and ordering torture against specific individuals.

“What can we do to make them talk? Tighten him more. Don't let him sleep. Throw water on him.”

The indictment identifies at least three other high-ranking Venezuelan officials, referred to only as CC-1, CC-2, and CC-3, whose identities remain under seal. U.S. Attorney James M. McDonald stated the alleged crimes caused "generational harm" to Venezuelans and affected U.S. citizens. The new charges significantly expand the case initially brought after Maduro and Flores were detained by U.S. forces in Caracas on January 3.

Maduro's attorney, Barry Pollack, said his client denies the new conspiracy-to-torture charge and looks forward to his next court appearance. Maduro previously pleaded not guilty to narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges. A judge denied Flores's request for house arrest, keeping both in federal custody pending trial.