Venezuelan president charged with drugs and weapons offences after missile strike

The Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, has been charged with drug and weapons offences in the US.

The US hit Venezuela with a 'large-scale strike' early this morning (3 January) and said Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country after months of stepped-up pressure by Washington.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said the president and his wife, Cilia Flores, would face criminal charges after an indictment in New York. She vowed on social media that they would 'soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts'.

She has said that Maduro has been charged with: "Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States."

Trump confirmed the 'large scale strike'. (Alicia Vera/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Bondi did not clarify what Flores has been charged with. "A huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers," she added.

In response to the missile strikes, an official statement from the Venezuelan government said: "Venezuela rejects, repudiates, and denounces before the international community the extremely serious military aggression perpetrated by the current Government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory."

Donald Trump confirmed the attacks on Venezuela as he wrote on Truth Social: "The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.

"This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP"

Venezuela was hit on 3 January. (AFP via Getty Images)

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also clarified that the UK was not 'involved in any way' in the US operation in Venezuela.

He added: "I want to establish the facts first. I want to speak to President Trump. I want to speak to allies. As I say I can be absolutely clear we were not involved in that".

Starmer went on to say: "As you know, I always say and believe we should uphold international law.

"But I think at this stage, fast moving situation, let's establish the facts and take it from there".

Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello has urged citizens to remain calm, saying: "The world needs to speak out about this attack."