15 hours ago
Last Updated:January 04, 2026, 16:53 IST
US federal prosecutors say Maduro Guerra played a central role in organising cocaine shipments from Venezuela to the US.
Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, son of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (Credits: Instagram)
US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Saturday and flew them out of the country, US officials said. The move follows months of pressure from Washington over alleged drug trafficking and migration-linked crimes.
With the president now in custody, attention has turned to his son, Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, widely known as “The Prince". Newly unsealed US indictments describe his alleged role in an international cocaine network.
Charges Laid By Trump Administration
According to US prosecutors, the Trump administration has charged Maduro, Flores and Maduro Guerra with drug trafficking, narco-terrorism and weapons-related offences. Investigators allege the trio conspired to move large quantities of cocaine into the United States.
Prosecutors claim the drugs were meant to support Colombian guerrilla groups, Mexican cartels and criminal gangs operating in Venezuela. All three have been named as co-conspirators in the case.
Who Is Maduro’s Son?
Maduro Guerra, 35, is the son of the Venezuelan president from his first marriage to Adriana Guerra Angulo. Born in 1990, he rose quickly within the ruling Chavista movement and has been seen as a possible political heir.
He serves as a member of Venezuela’s Assembly and is known by the nicknames “Nicolasito" and “The Prince", reflecting his close access to power.
Alleged Drug Routes And State Support
US federal prosecutors say Maduro Guerra played a central role in organising cocaine shipments from Venezuela to the US. Court documents allege that state resources, including aircraft and military personnel, were used to move drugs.
Between 2014 and 2015, he is said to have travelled twice a month to Margarita Island on a PDVSA Falcon 900 jet. Before each flight, the plane was allegedly packed with taped bundles of cocaine, with military officials aware of the cargo.
One affidavit claims Maduro Guerra said the aircraft could fly “wherever it wanted," including into US airspace.
Links To Cartels And Ports
The indictment further alleges that in 2017, Maduro Guerra coordinated shipments of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine to Miami, Florida. Prosecutors also describe plans to send lower-quality cocaine to New York and to smuggle drugs through US ports using cargo and scrap metal containers.
He is accused of operating within the Cartel de los Soles, a drug network allegedly led by senior Venezuelan officials. Investigators say PDVSA planes, presidential hangars and diplomatic channels were used to avoid detection.
What The Indictment Says
The charges include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and conspiracy involving weapons and destructive devices. Prosecutors also claim that drug profits were used to fund political activities, including campaigns linked to Cilia Flores.
The case is expected to deepen political uncertainty in Venezuela as investigations continue.
First Published:
January 04, 2026, 16:53 IST
News world Attention Turns To ‘The Prince’ After US Captures Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, His Wife
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