Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are expected to face additional charges in the United States over their alleged involvement in the torture of Americans detained in Venezuela.
According to CBS, US federal prosecutors are expected to file the new charges this week.
The allegations relate to the torture of more than a dozen Americans who were allegedly wrongfully detained by the Venezuelan government during Maduro’s time in power.
Maduro and Flores were seized by US forces in a night-time operation in Caracas on January 3 and taken to New York to face existing charges.
The couple have denied the allegations.
Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, told CBS that he had not been notified of any additional charges.
Flores, who is facing drug trafficking and weapons charges, is scheduled to appear before a federal court in New York for a bond hearing on Thursday.
The trial of Maduro and Flores is scheduled to begin in June 2027.
Maduro is currently accused by US prosecutors of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy, and possession of and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
He and 14 others were initially indicted in 2020 during Donald Trump’s first term as US president.
Prosecutors have alleged that Maduro, his wife, his son and their alleged accomplices were involved in a cocaine trafficking operation and worked with cartels designated as terrorist organisations by the US.
Maduro has previously rejected the allegations, describing the charges as part of efforts to advance US interests in Venezuela, including access to its oil reserves.
His lawyers have also asked the court to dismiss the charges, arguing that he is the leader of a sovereign country and is protected from prosecution by immunity.
They further contend that the US operation to seize him was illegal. The judge has yet to rule on the requests.
Flores’ bond hearing is expected to provide further details on the case as prosecutors pursue the additional allegations.
