Nicolás Maduro under pressure: the United States opens a second explosive criminal investigation

US authorities are conducting a second criminal investigation against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to several sources close to the case. This new proceeding could lead to further charges against the former leader, who is already being prosecuted by US federal authorities.

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami and is focusing in particular on possible money laundering operations. According to U.S. officials, the investigations were already underway when the president Donald Trump ordered a military operation in January which led to the arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

This case adds to the charges already filed against Maduro in a New York federal court. The former head of state is accused of narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and other offenses related to an alleged international criminal network. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody in a Brooklyn jail awaiting trial.

According to sources cited by Reuters, US investigators are seeking to determine whether financial networks linked to Maduro were used to conceal or illegally transfer funds. The investigations could also involve other members or associates of the former Venezuelan regime.

The case is politically highly sensitive, as the initial indictment filed in New York in 2020 served as the legal justification for the US military operation in Caracas to overthrow and arrest Maduro. This intervention provoked significant diplomatic tensions in the region.

For now, the US Department of Justice has not confirmed whether this second investigation will officially lead to further charges. But it shows that Washington continues to intensify legal pressure against the former Venezuelan leader and his associates.