Bloomberg Law The Narcoterrorism Case Against Maduro
Mar 30, 2026
Alamdar Hamdani, former U.S. Attorney and national security prosecutor, explains the rare narcoterrorism statute and why it was used against Nicolás Maduro. Suzanne Monyak, federal judiciary reporter, discusses rising threats to judges and the court system’s push for more security and cyber upgrades. They explore evidence, legal hurdles, and how funding and protections shape high-stakes prosecutions.
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Which Groups The Indictment Emphasizes
- The indictment focuses on Tren de Agua, FARC and Mexican cartels, not the earlier named Cartel de los Soles leadership allegation.
- Hamdani notes the Cartel de los Soles was designated an FTO in November, possibly prepping for this indictment.
Evidence Shows Where The Trial Will Turn On
- Key prosecutorial challenges are witness credibility and handling classified or foreign intelligence evidence.
- Hamdani expects cooperators and foreign wiretaps plus CIA/NSA material that prosecutors must protect while meeting disclosure obligations.
FTO Designations Make Terror Link Easier For Juries
- Convictions under the narco-terrorism statute are uncommon but prosecutable when FTO designations make the terrorism link intuitive.
- Hamdani says prosecutors need long, credibility-focused trials and highlighted SDNY dedicating four top prosecutors to the case.