Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, who is now detained on U.S. soil after a successful American military operation, could soon face criminal charges in the State of Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday.
The governor said Florida’s Attorney General is “looking very seriously” at whether state law can be used to hold Maduro accountable for his campaign of drug trafficking, violent gang exportation, and border invasion that has directly impacted the Sunshine State.
Speaking at a press conference in Clearwater, DeSantis reminded Floridians that the Venezuelan strongman isn’t just facing a federal indictment in New York, where he’s charged with narcotics, narco-terrorism, and weapons offenses, but is being examined for how his regime’s corruption and criminality spilled into Florida itself.
DeSantis:
“We are looking very seriously at this—and not necessarily me; I’ll be supportive—but it’s through the attorney general’s office that these things can be brought, potentially bringing a state case against Nicolás Maduro.He was obviously very involved with drugs. He was obviously very involved in bringing drugs, particularly to Florida and across the border. You know what he would also do—and this is not in the federal indictment in New York—he would empty his prisons and send them to America across the border.
We’d end up with some of these people in Florida—Tren de Aragua gang members who were in prison there—and he did that. To me, that is a very hostile act. We’re looking at the statutes to see—obviously, we’ve got robust narcotics statutes—but certainly on importing the criminal element.”
WATCH:
BREAKING: Nicolas Maduro likely to face FLORIDA STATE-LEVEL CHARGES — Gov. Ron DeSantis says Maduro unleashed Tren de Aragua gang members DIRECTLY into Florida communities
GOOD!
MAXIMUM JUSTICE pic.twitter.com/0kDFEPGim8
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 6, 2026
During an interview with Jesse Watters, DeSantis doubled down, making it clear that a federal indictment does not preclude state action.
According to the governor, Florida law contains robust narcotics statutes and provisions against importing criminal elements, which the Attorney General’s office is now reviewing closely.
If viable, state prosecutors could file historic charges in Miami, Doral, or another Florida jurisdiction.
DeSantis:
“I’d also say that I know they indicted him in the Southern District of New York. We also have the right, as a state, to bring pertinent charges in state court, and we’re working on that. Our attorney general is leading that effort, and you may see charges filed in a place like Miami or Doral, which we’re entitled to do.”
WATCH:
BREAKING: Nicolas Maduro likely to be criminally charged in MIAMI-DADE on Florida state-level charges…home to the largest Venezuelan population in the United States
Isn’t that symbolic. H*LL YES!
GOV. RON DESANTIS: “We’re working on that! You MAY see charges filed in… pic.twitter.com/1myjdEj73o
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 7, 2026
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