Maduro faces new criminal investigation from federal prosecutors in Miami

Nicolas Maduro, seized by U.S. forces in January and held in a New York prison, faces a new legal challenge. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami is examining a second criminal inquiry, and it is unclear whether it will result in additional charges. The new investigations follow growing doubts about the viability of narcotics and firearms-related charges brought after Maduro and Cilia Flores were detained. The second investigation has been underway for months, with reporting citing sources from the Department of Justice and those close to the matter. The timing follows Venezuela’s announcement that it deported Alex Saab, a key financial operator for Maduro. The order targeting Maduro was signed by senior Department of Justice officials while he was already in custody, and the new investigation was formally opened around March.

"The U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami is examining a new criminal inquiry into Maduro, U.S. outlets such as CBS and Reuters have reported in recent days. It is unclear whether that probe will lead to additional charges. The new investigations come amid growing doubts about the viability of the case opened after Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained on January 3, given the difficulty of proving the charges brought against them."

"Maduro and Flores are facing narcotics and firearms-related charges in New York. But now the U.S. is pursuing a second criminal investigation into the former president. The story was first reported by the U.S. network CBS. This second investigation, led by the Miami U.S. Attorney's Office, has been underway for several months, according to two sources cited by Reuters, one from the Department of Justice and another close to the investigation."

"The possibility of these new charges comes just days after the Venezuelan government announced the deportation of Colombian businessman Alex Saab, one of Maduro's main financial operators and Venezuela's former industry minister. The order targeting Maduro, issued by senior Department of Justice officials, was signed when the Venezuelan leader was already in custody in connection with the charges filed in New York, CBS reports, citing anonymous sources. The new investigation was formally opened around March, according to the sources cited by CBS."

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