New York federal prosecutors say El Zabayar, acting under the direction of the president of the Venezuelan assembly, traveled to the Middle East in 2014 to obtain weapons and recruit members of Hezbollah and Hamas to train at hidden camps in Venezuela. By Tom Winter and Pete Williams. Full Text-> NBCNews

U.S. prosecutors on Wednesday charged a former Venezuelan lawmaker with taking part with President Nicolas Maduro in a scheme linked to South American and Middle Eastern militant groups to traffic cocaine and military grade weapons. By Mark Hosenball. Full Text -> Reuters

Adel El Zabayar Allegedly Worked with the Former President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro Moros and Other Prominent Venezuelan Officials to Distribute Cocaine and Weapons In Coordination with Terrorist Organizations . Full Text -> Department of JusticeU.S. Attorney’s OfficeSouthern District of New York

So the indictment of Maduro and other top officials raises important strategic questions. Most fundamentally, how does it advance the Trump administration’s stated objective of a peaceful, democratic transition in Venezuela, which Pompeo’s framework aims to achieve?By Michael Camilleri. Full text -> Los Angeles Times

The administration of Donald Trump seems to hope that the indictments will finally remove a regime that has been subject to punishing sanctions since early last year. But branding Mr Maduro a criminal blunts any incentive he might have to relinquish power. On March 31st the Trump administration changed its tone a bit. It suggested a “democratic transition framework” that envisages a role for the regime. Full text -> The Economist

Venezuela’s authoritarian Nicolás Maduro is even more evil than the world knew: He’s not just driving his own country to ruin, he’s apparently a global drug kingpin, too. By Post Editorial Board. Full text -> New York Post

It was a statement that would not only seal their fate, but help expose the rank corruption of Maduro’s regime and lead to last week’s bombshell federal indictment in New York, charging the Venezuelan leader and members of his inner circle with drug trafficking and “narco-terrorism” against the United States. By Isabel Vincent. Full text -> New York Post

 A retired Venezuelan army general indicted alongside Nicolas Maduro has surrendered in Colombia and is being taken by Drug Enforcement Administration agents to New York for arraignment, four people familiar with the situation said Friday. By Joshua Goodman. Full text -> Democrat-Gazette

The Trump administration has placed a $15 million reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro for drug trafficking. The indictment of a ruling head of state is highly unusual. By Joshua Goodman. Full text -> The Christian Science Monitor

This is a significant departure from previous U.S. strategy, which has openly sought to drive wedges between them and Maduro. Now, whatever incentive these key power brokers might have had to support a transition has been wiped out. They are each more likely to decide that they’re better off sticking with Maduro, even if it means going down with the ship. By Geoff Ramsey. Full text -> Washington Post