Mike Waltz addressed the United Nations to outline U.S. actions against Venezuela’s leadership, describing the arrest of a narco trafficker and the transfer of Nicolás Maduro and his co-defendant, Celia Flores, to the United States to face criminal charges.
Waltz framed the move as a law-enforcement action taken to protect Americans and confront narco-terrorism in the Western Hemisphere.
“Indictments that have existed for decades the United States arrested a narco trafficker who is now going to stand trial in the United States in accordance with the rule of law for the crimes he has committed against our people for 15 years,” Waltz said.
He compared the operation to a prior U.S. action in Panama, stating, “A similar action was taken in 1989 against Manuel Noriega. He was arrested, indicted, convicted in a court of law, served in prison in the United States and in Panama. And the Panamanian people, the American people, are safer for it, and undeniably, the region was more stable.”
Waltz said the action was carried out under the constitutional authority of the President of the United States.
“This law enforcement action was directed consistent with the President of the United States responsibility as commander in chief to protect Americans at home and abroad against a fugitive who is directly responsible for Narco terrorism that has killed hundreds of 1000s of Americans and created destabilizing violence throughout our hemisphere,” he said.
According to Waltz, Maduro and Flores were transferred to the United States to face charges in federal court.
“Nicholas Maduro and his co defendant Celia Flores, have been transferred here to the United States to stand trial for their crimes,” he said.
“Maduro was indicted by a grand jury in the Southern District of New York, and faces very serious criminal charges for his involvement in a wide ranging conspiracy to conduct Narco terrorism, to traffic cocaine and other drugs, and conducting international weapons trafficking.”
Waltz said evidence against Maduro would be presented publicly.
“The overwhelming evidence of his crimes will be presented openly in US court proceedings, colleagues,” he said.
He rejected claims that Maduro held legitimate authority as Venezuela’s president.
“Maduro is not just an indicted drug trafficker. He was an illegitimate so called president. He was not a head of state,” Waltz said. He accused Maduro and his allies of manipulating elections to retain power. “For years, Maduro and his cronies have manipulated Venezuela’s electoral system to maintain their illegitimate grip on power,” he said.
Waltz cited international findings on Venezuela’s elections. “In fact, just two years ago in 2024 a UN panel of experts report found that the election in that year was absolutely and completely a farce and fell well short of the most basic transparency integrity measures essential to upholding credible elections,” he said.
He questioned the credibility of recognizing Maduro.
“If the UN and the United Nations in this body confers legitimacy on an illegitimate Narco terrorist And the same treatment in this charter of a democratically elected president or head of state. What kind of organization is this?”
He noted that many countries rejected Maduro’s claims to power.
“We should note that over 50 countries, many nations, including the European Union, including a number of Latin American countries in the region, and, of course, the United States, again, over 50 countries rejected the legitimacy of Maduro’s re election following the disputed 2024, elections,” Waltz said.
“And do not, do not recognize him as Venezuela’s legitimately elected president.”
Waltz stated that Maduro refused to leave office after losing the election.
“Maduro unlawfully refused to peacefully cede power after the Venezuelan people voted him out of office in the 2024 election,” he said.
“So therefore Maduro was a fugitive from justice.”
He accused Maduro of leading a criminal organization tied to terrorism.
“He is the head of a vicious foreign terrorist organization, Cartel de los Soles,” Waltz said.
He alleged coordination with other criminal groups.
“This regime sponsored enterprise coordinates with and relies on other vicious criminal organizations, namely trend Aragua, again, among others, to carry out its objective of using illegal narcotics as a weapon against the United States.”
Waltz described Tren de Aragua as a threat inside the United States.
“And for its part, trend Aragua is a designated foreign terrorist organization with 1000s of members, many of whom have unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the American people and against the United States,” he said.
He added, “It’s terrorizing criminals commit brutal crimes, including murders, kidnappings, extortions and human drug and weapons trafficking.”
He cited President Trump’s position on the issue.
“This administration, President Trump will not stand for it,” Waltz said. He referenced a declaration from March 2025, quoting, “Tren de Aragua is undertaking hostile actions and conducting irregular warfare against the territory of the United States, both directly and at the direction clandestine or otherwise of the Maduro regime in Venezuela.”
Waltz accused Maduro of enriching himself through crime.
“Maduro and his cronies have partnered with some of the most violent and prolific drug traffickers and Narco terrorists in the world for decades, facilitating the flood of illegal drugs coming in the United States, estimated to be several 100 tons annually,” he said.
“He has become rich, incredibly wealthy, off the misery of untold numbers of Americans, Venezuelans and others.”
He further alleged ties to foreign adversaries.
“Aiding and abetting international terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, coordinating with corrupt Iranian officials and other malign actors to influence not only the region, but to malignly influence the United States,” Waltz said.
Waltz cited United Nations findings on trafficking routes.
“In fact, in its own 2025 world Drug Report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime identified Venezuela as a key trafficking route In the Western Hemisphere,” he said.
He concluded by emphasizing U.S. objectives.
“Members of this council colleagues the United States wants a better future for Venezuela,” Waltz said.
“We believe a better future for the people of Venezuela and for the people of the region and the world is stabilizing the region and making the neighborhood that we live in a much better and safer place.”
Waltz said Venezuelans worldwide were reacting to the developments.
“This is why millions of Venezuelans that have fled this brutal regime are celebrating and cheering around the world,” he said, referencing those in Florida and elsewhere.
He ended by reiterating U.S. resolve. “The United States will not waver in our actions to protect Americans from the scourge of Narco terrorism and seeks peace, liberty and justice for the great people of Venezuela.”
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