He runs a country—and, according to U.S. prosecutors, a cartel. In March 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a sweeping indictment against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro Moros, accusing him of transforming his government into a criminal enterprise. The charges? Narco-terrorism, corruption, money laundering, and conspiracy to “flood” the United States with cocaine—using drugs as a weapon of war.

Prosecutors allege Maduro and his allies led the Cártel de Los Soles, working with Colombia’s FARC rebels to move tons of cocaine through Venezuela with military protection. The U.S. doesn’t even recognize him as Venezuela’s legitimate president—and has offered up to $50 million for information leading to his capture.

From the presidential palace to the DEA’s most-wanted list, this is the story of power, politics, and powder—where international law meets one of the world’s boldest indictments.

This is Fugitive Files. Let’s get into it.