Most of Nicolás Maduro’s inner circle lives in Venezuela, including some wanted by the US

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife He was sentenced on Monday in New York in connection with drug trafficking and other charges following their abduction from a US military operation over the weekend. But almost all of the leader’s inner circle has been removed – including others with him who is accused of driving the cart suspected of smuggling tons of cocaine into the US – stay in their places.

The US, along with many Venezuelans and other nations, believe it elections in Venezuela last year In fact, it was won by this team 2025 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Maria Corina Machadowho has long been the leader of the persecuted country’s opposition. Maduro declared victory despite widespread allegations of electoral fraud and intimidation.

But Machado has been in exile for months, and his whereabouts were unclear Monday. He looks very disgusted by Mr. Trump in his plans for Venezuela, the American leader says that he does not receive popular support to be installed as the new head of government.

Machado expressed hope in a statement Monday that he and “the brave people of Venezuela” will soon enjoy freedom and “celebrate in our world.” But for now, the people with guns and apparently running the country are not his supporters, but Nicolás Maduro.

Below is a look at some of the most senior members of Maduro’s regime remaining in Caracas — and in the case of at least one, they recently received a promotion.

Delcy Rodríguez

The most senior member of Maduro’s inner circle not affected by the weekend US raids may be the country’s former Vice President. Delcy Rodríguez, sworn in on Monday as the new interim president, taking over from his longtime political adviser.

The 56-year-old has long been seen as a confidant and protege of Venezuela’s now-ousted leader, and a member of the group Washington has accused for years of helping Maduro maintain his grip on power.

It was not clear Monday whether Rodriguez and the Trump administration could find a way to work together, and thus whether he could continue to govern to some degree following Mr.

Mr. Trump warned over the weekend that if Rodríguez “doesn’t do the right thing, he will pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”

Diosdado Cabello

Another activist of Maduro’s regime is Diosdado Cabello, who currently serves as Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace, giving him oversight of the country’s police and prisons.

Cabello has served as vice president, and for many years as president of the state parliament. He also spent years in charge of Venezuela’s intelligence services.

Like Maduro, he was charged with crimes in the United States, accused of helping to smuggle more than 5 tons of cocaine into the US.

In 2020, he was among those charged with various drug and weapons charges in a case filed in the same Southern New York district that handled Maduro’s appearance on Monday.

The indictment names Cabello as a top figure in the Cartel del los Soles, which Maduro is accused of leading.

Vladimir Padrino López

Vladimir Padrino López, who currently serves as Minister of Defense in Venezuela, is also suspected of direct involvement in drug trafficking to the US.

The US accuses him of allowing the safe passage of commercial planes carrying illegal drugs, and collecting protection money for doing so, and he was indicted in federal court in Washington DC in 2020.

Jorge Rodríguez

The new interim president’s brother, Jorge Rodríguez, has served as President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, the country’s legislature controlled by Maduro, from 2021. He is also considered as an important person in the government.

“My main task in the coming days… as the president of this National Assembly, will be to use all channels, all platforms, and all channels to bring back Nicolas Maduro Moros, my brother, my president,” Jorge Rodriguez told the law enforcement.

Like her sister, Rodríguez has been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for her alleged role in undermining democracy in Venezuela and supporting Maduro’s authoritarian regime.

Nicolas “Nicolasito” Ernesto Maduro Guerra

One of Maduro’s sons, as well as his mother Cilia, who was sentenced with her husband in New York on Monday, were also indicted in 2020 on drug charges related to the Cartel de los Soles.

Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, 35, known in the country as Nicolasito, or Little Nicolás, is currently the vice president of the legislature. Sometimes he is also called “The Prince” in the country.

According to the US indictment, the younger Maduro cooperated with his father, other high-ranking officials and “drug traffickers and drug terrorist groups, who sent processed cocaine from Venezuela to the United States through transit points in the Caribbean and Central America.”