As US authorities prepare to present the now deposed President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, before a court in Manhattan, growing attention has shifted to the fate and whereabouts of his son, Nicolas Ernesto Maduro Guerra, widely known by the nickname “The Prince.” While Maduro himself is in American custody and facing a raft of serious criminal charges, his son has so far managed to evade arrest. US prosecutors have levelled against Ernesto the same grave allegations of narco-terrorism that they have brought against his father.
On December 3, Caracas was jolted awake by explosions and intense gunfire as US special forces carried out a high-profile operation to seize President Maduro and his wife. The operation, attributed to the US Delta Force, ended with the couple being flown out of Venezuela and placed in US custody. Maduro is now set to appear before a Manhattan court after being indicted on multiple counts, including narco-terrorism. However, the indictment does not stop with him, as several individuals, including his son, have also been named.
US prosecutors allege that Nicolas Ernesto Maduro Guerra conspired with others to engage in narco-terrorism and played an active role in facilitating the trafficking of cocaine into the United States. According to the indictment, he is accused of being part of a state-linked drug trafficking network that allegedly used Venezuela as a hub to funnel large quantities of narcotics toward American markets. Six other individuals have also been charged alongside him.
Born on June 21, 1990, in Caracas, Ernesto Maduro is the only son of Nicolas Maduro and his first wife, Adriana Guerra Angulo. Often referred to as “Nicolasito,” he grew up in the public eye and later carved out a political career under his father’s presidency. Early on, he worked at Venezuela’s Public Ministry until 2014 before moving into roles within the presidential administration, despite questions being raised about his qualifications for some of those positions.
He was appointed head of the Corps of Special Inspectors of the Presidency in 2013 and later became Coordinator of the National Film School in 2014, even though he had no formal background in filmmaking. His political prominence increased when he was elected to the 2017 Constituent Assembly, where he drew international attention for fiery rhetoric, including threats directed at the United States. Since 2021, he has served as a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly representing the ruling United Socialist Party.
Following the operation that led to his father’s capture, Ernesto Maduro has remained out of reach of US authorities, with his exact location still unknown. On January 5, he released a public audio message addressed to the Venezuelan people, condemning the US action and claiming it amounted to a violation of international law. He accused Washington of military aggression and alleged the existence of traitors within Venezuela, urging citizens to resist what he described as foreign intervention.
In his message, he called on supporters to take to the streets and stand firm, declaring that Venezuela would not show weakness despite the pressure. His remarks came as pro-Maduro supporters staged demonstrations in Caracas, vowing loyalty to the former president even as the country’s interim leadership sought to project unity in the face of US warnings.
The charges against Ernesto Maduro are extensive and severe. According to the Manhattan indictment, first reported by Bloomberg, he is accused of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States as part of a broader narco-terrorism operation. Prosecutors claim the network worked with criminal groups such as the Cartel de los Soles and Mexican drug cartels, allegedly using Venezuelan territory and state resources to move drugs.
The indictment further alleges that Ernesto arranged shipments of cocaine to US destinations, including Miami, and used state-owned aircraft to transport narcotics. One accusation claims that a flight operated by PDVSA was used to carry contraband. Prosecutors also allege that he possessed machine guns and other destructive devices to protect the trafficking operation.
If convicted under US law, the charges could carry sentences ranging up to life imprisonment. The US Department of Justice has asserted that Ernesto Maduro’s alleged involvement mirrors that of his father, suggesting that the same criminal enterprise extended across generations. As the legal process against Nicolas Maduro unfolds in New York, the hunt for his son continues, adding another layer of intrigue and uncertainty to an already dramatic international case.
