Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that state officials are examining whether Florida can pursue its own criminal case against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following his capture by U.S. forces.
“We are looking very seriously at the possibility of bringing a state case against Nicolás Maduro,” DeSantis said during a news conference.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested Saturday during a U.S. military operation in Venezuela and flown to New York, where they are expected to face federal charges that include narco-terrorism conspiracy and weapons-related offenses involving machine guns and destructive devices.
DeSantis made the comments after speaking at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Clearwater, where he had appeared to promote legislation aimed at increasing accountability for congressional stock trading. He later addressed questions about the U.S. operation in Venezuela.
The governor said Maduro played a significant role in drug trafficking routes that affected Florida and accused him of sending criminals into the United States.
“He was obviously very involved with bringing drugs, particularly into Florida,” DeSantis said. He also alleged that Maduro emptied Venezuelan prisons and sent inmates north, some of whom later ended up in Florida, including members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
DeSantis called those actions a “hostile act” and said Floridians have been harmed by gang members tied to Venezuela. While he did not specify what state charges could be filed, DeSantis said he would support any action taken by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
