The only son of detained Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has called on citizens to take to the streets in protest, following his father’s arrest, while warning that those who betrayed his family would eventually be exposed.
Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, 35, who was indicted by the United States in 2020 alongside his parents, struck a defiant tone on Sunday, January 4. He declared that he would do everything possible to secure the freedom of his parents and resist what he described as US-backed leadership in Venezuela.
In a fiery statement reported by El País, Maduro Guerra urged Venezuelans to demonstrate unity and resilience. “You will see us in the streets. You will see a united people. You will see us raising the flags of dignity,” he said, adding that his family would not be broken by the situation.
He also issued a warning to individuals he accused of betraying his family and leaking information that led to his father’s arrest, insisting that their identities would soon come to light.
Maduro Guerra, a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly, is among several senior officials still in the country who face US charges over alleged links to international drug trafficking and money laundering. Others reportedly implicated include the defence minister, interior minister, and former top judicial and economic officials.
Nicknamed “The Prince,” Maduro Guerra was appointed by his father in 2013 as Head of the Corps of Special Inspectors of the Presidency shortly after Nicolás Maduro assumed power.
According to recently unsealed court documents, he has been charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracy to possess machine guns. The US Department of Justice alleges that he collaborated with drug traffickers and narco-terrorist groups to transport cocaine into the United States, including shipments allegedly sent from Venezuela to Miami in 2017.