The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday unsealed federal charges against 14 senior Venezuelan government officials, including President Nicolas Maduro Moros, for allegedly engaging in narco-terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, and other criminal offenses. The U.S. Department of State's Narcotics Rewards Program is offering up to $15 million for information leading to Maduro's arrest or conviction. This sweeping indictment exposes deep ties between Venezuela's highest levels of government and the illicit drug trade, while also implicating the nation's cryptocurrency regulatory body.
Indictment Details: Collusion with FARC and 'Flooding' the U.S. with Cocaine
According to the DOJ, Maduro and his co-conspirators have allegedly partnered with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), Colombia's largest rebel group, since at least 1999. Attorney General William P. Barr stated, "For more than 20 years, Maduro and a number of high-ranking colleagues allegedly conspired with the FARC, causing tons of cocaine to enter and devastate American communities." The indictment claims Maduro served as a leader of the so-called "Cártel de los Soles," using his presidential authority to facilitate drug trafficking routes and protect shipments.
Charged officials include Vice President for the Economy Tareck El Aissami, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, and Chief Supreme Court Justice Maikel Moreno. U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan said, "Over the last decade, corrupt Venezuelan government officials have systematically looted Venezuela of billions of dollars," often using South Florida banks and real estate to launder proceeds.
Crypto Superintendent Charged with Sanctions Evasion
A separate indictment unsealed on Thursday charges Joselit Ramirez Camacho, 33-year-old head of Venezuela's Superintendency of Cryptocurrencies (Sunacrip), with evading U.S. sanctions. From February 2017 to March 2019, Ramirez allegedly worked with U.S. persons and entities to provide private flight services for Maduro's 2018 presidential campaign, violating sanctions targeting Maduro. Sunacrip is Venezuela's primary regulator of digital currencies, including the state-backed Petro.
Alysa D. Erichs of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) noted, "Today's announcement highlights HSI's global reach and commitment to aggressively identify, target and investigate individuals who violate U.S. laws, exploit financial systems, and hide behind cryptocurrency to further their illicit criminal activity." The investigation was led by the DEA's Special Operations Division, New York Strike Force, and Miami Field Division.
Bounties and Sentencing
In addition to Maduro's $15 million bounty, the State Department is offering up to $10 million each for Tareck El Aissami, Diosdado Cabello, and others. Maduro faces charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy (mandatory minimum 20 years), cocaine importation conspiracy (minimum 10 years), and using machine guns and destructive devices (minimum 30 years). All charges carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The Venezuelan president has denounced the charges as political persecution. The case underscores growing scrutiny of cryptocurrency's role in global financial crime and sanctions evasion.