Nicolas Maduro’s son, who has been implicated in drug trafficking, became emotional on Monday while speaking to Venezuela’s parliament after his father’s recent apprehension.
Through tears, Nicolás Maduro Guerra proclaimed, “If we accept the abduction of a head of state, no nation is secure. Today it’s Venezuela, but tomorrow it might be any country that stands its ground.”
He continued, “Papa, we are fulfilling our duty until you return. The motherland is in safe hands, and soon we’ll embrace you here in Venezuela.”
In Caracas, lawmakers loyal to the ruling party, including Maduro’s son, convened for the planned inauguration of the National Assembly, setting the stage for a term that extends until 2031.
Guerra, who holds a prominent government position and is a parliament member, expressed his unwavering support for Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s deputy who has stepped in as interim president.
He urged for the return of his father and stepmother, Cilia Flores, to Venezuela and sought international backing. Additionally, Guerra, the ousted leader’s sole son, criticized being labeled a co-conspirator in the charges brought by the U.S.
Maduro and Flores were indicted in New York today on conspiracy charges of narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons offenses after their astonishing capture by US special forces on Saturday.
Guerra, 35, known as ‘Nicolasito’ or ‘The Prince’, is accused in the indictment of conspiring in ‘massive-scale drug trafficking’, including taking private jets to Caribbean party islands and bribing Colombian security personnel.
‘If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe. Today, it´s Venezuela. Tomorrow, it could be any nation that refuses to submit,’ Nicolás Maduro Guerra said through sobs
Nicolas Maduro is seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed Federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a Federal courthouse in Manhattan on January 5
The dictator’s son worked with cartels to ship cocaine from Venezuela to the US via the Caribbean, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico, the indictment alleges.
Guerra is accused of flying to Margarita Island, a Venezuelan vacation spot in the Caribbean, where he loaded up a state-owned jet with cocaine packages.
He allegedly bragged to a military commander that he could have the jet, owned by the country’s state oil company, fly anywhere he wanted, including the US.
He also worked to ship cocaine from Venezuela to Miami and New York, including using scrap metal containers to smuggle the drugs, the indictment says.
Guerra allegedly met with Colombian security officials in 2020 to discuss moving cocaine and weapons through the country and into the US over the next six years. The Colombians were offered guns as payment.
Guerra now faces an uncertain political future as he could be captured at any moment to face trial in New York along with his father and stepmother.
However, he and the Venezuelan government sought on Monday to show the citizenry and the world that the country is not controlled by the United States.
Delcy Rodríguez, who served as vice president to Maduro and has vowed to work with the Trump administration, was sworn in as interim president. She was sworn in by her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, who was reelected as speaker.
‘I come with sorrow for the suffering inflicted upon the Venezuelan people following an illegitimate military aggression against our homeland,’ she said with her right hand up.
Nicolas Maduro Guerra gestures during the inaugural session for the 2026-2031 Legislative Constitutional Period at Palacio Federal Legislativo on January 5 in Caracas
Nicolas Maduro Guerra walks out after the inaugural session for the 2026-2031 Legislative Constitutional Period at Palacio Federal Legislativo on January 5, 2026 in Caracas
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, left, and his wife, Cilia Flores, second from right, appear in Manhattan federal court with their defense attorneys Mark Donnelly, second from left, and Andres Sanchez, Monday
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (R) waves as he arrives with his wife, Celia Flores (L) at the Supreme Court of Justice in Caracas, Venezuela, 31 July 2024
While Venezuelan lawmakers met, Maduro made his first court appearance in a US courtroom on the narco-terrorism charges the Trump administration used to justify capturing him and taking him to New York.
Maduro declared himself ‘innocent’ and a ‘decent man’ as he pleaded not guilty to federal drug-trafficking charges.
The US seized Maduro and Flores in a military operation Saturday, capturing them in their home on a military base.
Donald Trump said America would ‘run’ Venezuela temporarily, but Marco Rubio said Sunday that it would not govern the country day-to-day other than enforcing an existing ‘ oil quarantine.’
The Secretary of State said the US was using pressure on Venezuela’s oil industry as a way to push for policy changes.
‘We expect to see that there will be changes, not just in the way the oil industry is run for the benefit of the people, but also so that they stop the drug trafficking,’ he told CBS.
‘We expect to see that there will be changes, not just in the way the oil industry is run for the benefit of the people, but also so that they stop the drug trafficking,’ Rubio said on CBS´ ‘Face the Nation.’
Rodríguez said Sunday that Venezuela is seeking ‘respectful relations’ with the US, a shift from a more defiant tone she struck in the immediate aftermath of Maduro’s capture.
‘We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence,’ Rodríguez said in a statement.
This image posted on US President Donald Trump’s Truth Social account on January 3, 2026, shows Maduro onboard the USS Iwo Jima after the US military captured him
Explosions tore across Caracas during the daring raid early Saturday morning as shown in a video posted by Trump on his Truth Social account
Her conciliatory message came after Trump threatened that she could ‘pay a very big price’ if she did not fall in line with US demands.
A State Department official said Monday that the Trump administration is making preliminary plans to reopen the US embassy in Venezuela.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations, said early preparations ‘to allow for a reopening’ of the embassy in Caracas had begun should Trump decide to return American diplomats to the country.
