Washington, Jan 3 (NationPress) US Attorney General Pam Bondi reported on Saturday that the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, and his spouse, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York for multiple serious federal offenses related to drug trafficking and terrorism.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump asserted that the Venezuelan leader and his wife have been "captured" and "flown out" of Caracas.

On his social media platform, 'Truth Social', Trump stated, "The United States has successfully executed a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and transported out of the country."

He indicated that this operation was conducted in collaboration with US law enforcement, and further information would be shared during a press conference at 11 am (local time) at Mar-a-Lago.

Attorney General Bondi disclosed that Maduro faces charges of Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.

"They will soon experience the full force of American justice on US soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire US Department of Justice, I want to extend my gratitude to President Trump for having the bravery to demand accountability on behalf of the American people, and a heartfelt thanks to our courageous military for executing this remarkable and highly successful mission to apprehend these two alleged international narco traffickers," Bondi expressed on X.

Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodríguez earlier stated that the whereabouts of Maduro and his wife remain unknown following the US strikes in Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira during the early hours of the morning, local time.

Leading Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional reported that Rodríguez, in a telephone interview with Venezolana de Televisión, demanded proof of life for Maduro and Flores from the US government.

"Delcy Rodríguez urged the public to unite in a civic-military effort to defend the nation," the newspaper noted.

According to sources cited by Fox News, El Nacional reported that the nighttime US military operation involved a significant deployment of Chinook helicopters and other special forces assets.

Several loud explosions were heard early Saturday in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.

American media indicated that Maduro was captured by a unit of the US Army's elite Delta Force.

"Administration sources revealed that Trump authorized the military actions a few days prior, following months of heightened US military presence off the Venezuelan coast and calls from the White House for Maduro to resign," El Nacional reported.