SouthernWorldwide.com – Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is now facing a new legal challenge in the United States. Families of five Venezuelan men have filed a civil lawsuit, accusing him of overseeing a Venezuelan police unit that was responsible for extrajudicial killings and torture during his presidency.
The complaint specifically alleges that Maduro created Venezuela’s Special Action Forces, known as FAES. It further claims that he exercised command over this unit as it allegedly conducted a campaign of extrajudicial killings between the years of 2017 and 2021. The families involved are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages under the Torture Victim Protection Act.
This lawsuit marks a second legal front for Maduro in the United States. He is already awaiting trial on federal drug trafficking and weapons charges. The complaint argues that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York is the proper venue for this case, as Maduro is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
According to the lawsuit’s allegations, FAES officers would routinely enter homes before dawn. They were described as wearing black clothing and face coverings, separating young men from their families, and forcing many to their knees. The complaint states that these officers then executed the victims and staged crime scenes. The purpose of this staging was to make it appear as though the victims had “resisted authority.”
Furthermore, the plaintiffs allege that FAES officers engaged in looting homes. They also claim that weapons were planted, and victims were transported to hospitals after they had already died. This was allegedly done in an effort to conceal the extrajudicial killings.
The lawsuit meticulously details five separate incidents that occurred between 2017 and 2021. These incidents involved a total of six victims. In addition to the killings, the complaint also accuses FAES officers of torturing three relatives of the victims. The alleged torture included beatings, detentions, or being forced to witness the killings of their loved ones.
The families assert that they have been unable to obtain justice within Venezuela. They claim that prosecutors either refused to pursue investigations or failed to hold senior officials accountable. This lack of accountability has left them without an effective legal remedy in their home country.
The Torture Victim Protection Act is a piece of legislation that allows for civil claims to be brought in U.S. courts. These claims can be made concerning alleged torture and extrajudicial killings that were committed under the authority of a foreign government.
The complaint states that Maduro served as Venezuela’s president from 2013 until 2026. He has pleaded not guilty in his criminal case. Previously, Maduro has described himself as a “prisoner of war.”
