Washington DC

US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday said that the capture of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is “not just about drugs”, asserting that broader criminal accountability remains possible and that additional charges could still be pursued.

In her first interview since Washington’s military operation in Caracas, Bondi told Fox News that the action was lawful and well within the President’s constitutional authority. She rejected criticism that President Donald Trump lacked congressional approval, stating that the operation constituted a law-enforcement action to arrest indicted individuals.

“This was well within the President’s Article II powers. It was a law-enforcement function to arrest indicted individuals in Venezuela. Our military pulled off a flawless execution of that operation. America and the Western Hemisphere are safer tonight,” Bondi said.

She alleged that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were charged with directing murders, kidnappings and assaults against individuals who opposed or interfered with their alleged drug trafficking operations. Bondi claimed the operation has saved “thousands of lives” impacted by the drug trade.

“The charges: Maduro and his wife were charged with directing the murders, kidnappings, and assaults of anybody who stood in their way and anybody who tried to stop their drug business. They are also charged with bringing tonnes of drugs into this country. This is not just about drugs,” she said.

On Saturday, the United States carried out what it described as a large-scale strike in Venezuela, during which Maduro and Flores were captured in Caracas and flown out of the country in a joint operation involving US intelligence agencies and law enforcement.

President Trump said the couple had been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges including drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies and would face trial in the United States.

Bondi confirmed that Maduro, Flores and other accused individuals are currently in the custody of the Southern District of New York, where federal prosecutor Jay Clayton is handling the case.

She said an unsealed indictment includes four counts against Maduro and three against Flores, with additional charges against co-defendants, including Maduro’s son. Bondi added that prosecutions in other jurisdictions remain possible.

“They are in the Southern District of New York right now. Everything else is still on the table. Other co-defendants are charged. Maduro’s son is charged. Nothing is off the table,” she said.

Describing the accused as major criminal figures, Bondi said, “These are not street-level drug dealers. They are narco-traffickers,” adding that they are responsible for the loss of “so many lives” and “must remain behind bars.”

Earlier on Monday, Maduro pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges during his first court appearance in New York following his capture. He questioned the legality of his arrest, claiming he was detained at his residence in Caracas, a line expected to form the core of his legal defence, according to CNN.

READ MORE: IUML's Fatima Muzaffar Ahmed is the epitome of Muslim woman leadership

Maduro’s legal team has termed the operation a “military abduction”, alleging that it violated international law and due process protections.