Venezuelan First Lady Cilia Flores Faces US Charges Amid Narco Nephews Case
Cilia Flores, 69, a long-time Venezuelan political operator and influential adviser to President Nicolás Maduro, has been accused of taking large bribes related to drug trafficking activities. Flores, who rose to prominence following Hugo Chávez's 1998 election victory and led the National Assembly from 2006 for six years, is also Maduro's wife and was known for publicly projecting a family-focused image while hosting a TV show and appearing on state media. Despite this public persona, she was considered a major power behind Maduro.
Flores has faced multiple allegations of corruption and nepotism, including claims in 2012 that she employed up to 40 relatives. Notably, the 'Narco nephews case' involves two of her relatives who were arrested in Haiti in 2015 for attempting to smuggle 800 kg of cocaine. They were sentenced to 18 years and returned to Venezuela in a prisoner swap in 2022. The Trump administration imposed fresh sanctions on these nephews and a third relative, citing their involvement in drug trafficking and corruption linked to Maduro's circle.
A recently unsealed indictment accuses Flores of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in 2007 to arrange a meeting between a major drug trafficker and Venezuela's National Anti-Drug Office director. Flores is expected to appear in a New York court on Monday. The indictment comes amid a US raid in Caracas that led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, with Flores facing charges related to drug trafficking and weapons in New York alongside Maduro.
