US Indicts Maduro and Flores for Torture of Americans

• •Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores face new charges of torture against American detainees.
• •The indictment details severe torture methods authorized by Maduro, including electric shocks.
• •The couple has pleaded not guilty and is currently held in New York awaiting trial.

On October 8, 2026, U.S. prosecutors charged Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores with overseeing a system of torture against detainees, including American citizens, during Maduro's presidency in Venezuela. The indictment alleges that Maduro authorized various torture methods, including electric shocks and psychological threats, while Flores played a key role in implementing these practices. The charges stem from the wrongful detention of over a dozen Americans, some of whom reported severe mistreatment while in custody. Maduro and Flores were captured by U.S. military forces in January 2026 and are currently held in New York, facing life sentences for drug trafficking and now torture. Their attorneys argue for immunity based on their former positions, but the U.S. government refutes this claim. The indictment details specific incidents of torture and the involvement of the DGCIM, the military intelligence agency responsible for these acts. The couple has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is awaiting trial.