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FLORIDA - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that his administration is examining whether the state can bring a criminal case against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro over alleged drug trafficking that authorities say has affected Florida.
Speaking alongside Attorney General James Uthmeier, DeSantis said the state is reviewing its legal options to determine whether Florida law could be used to pursue charges connected to drugs that allegedly entered the United States and Florida through international trafficking networks.
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The governor said the goal is to explore accountability for conduct that he claims has had real consequences for Florida communities, particularly related to narcotics and crime.
State officials emphasized that any potential case would be based on existing statutes and would require careful legal review, especially because the alleged activity occurred largely outside U.S. borders.
No charges have been filed, and there is no timeline for a final decision.
Maduro has previously been accused by U.S. authorities of participating in international drug trafficking operations, allegations he has denied.
In federal court, U.S. prosecutors have alleged that he and other high-ranking figures in Venezuela were involved in long-running conspiracies to move large quantities of cocaine toward the United States.
Those claims remain allegations and have not been proven in court.
DeSantis also said the Maduro government allegedly contributed to broader criminal problems by allowing or enabling criminals to leave Venezuela, some of whom eventually ended up in the U.S. justice system.
Florida officials said the review is ongoing and stressed that any legal action would need to meet the same evidentiary standards as any other criminal case.
