** After Maduro:
The Future of Venezuela's Criminal State
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Nicolás Maduro's arrest on U.S. narcoterrorism charges marks a dramatic turning point for Venezuela — but does it signal the dismantling of a narco-state, or merely a change in leadership? With Vice President Delcy Rodríguez now apparently acquiescing to Trump administration demands, critical questions emerge about the future of Venezuela's criminal apparatus.

For years, investigative journalists documented how the "Cartel of the Suns" embedded drug trafficking within Venezuela's military and government, and how criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua expanded their reach across the hemisphere. These investigations revealed networks that transcend any single leader. Now, as Venezuela's political landscape shifts, what becomes of these deeply entrenched structures?

This briefing examines whether Maduro's downfall will disrupt or merely reshape Venezuela's criminal state. Our expert panel — OCCRP's Nathan Jaccard, Valentina Lares Martiz from Venezuelan outlet Armando.Info, and Steven Dudley of InSight Crime — will analyze the continuity and evolution of these networks, the implications for regional security and financial crime, and what compliance professionals should anticipate as power dynamics shift in Caracas.


** Speakers
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Valentina Lares Martiz is the editor in chief of Armando.Info, Venezuela's leading independent investigative outlet, and a reporter on OCCRP’s Latin America team. A Venezuelan journalist with extensive experience at Colombia's El Tiempo, she brings a frontline perspective on one of Latin America's most hostile media environments.

Steven Dudley is the co-founder of InSight Crime, a leading authority on Latin American organized crime. Former Miami Herald bureau chief for the Andean Region, he has reported from across the hemisphere for NPR and the Washington Post. He is also the author of "MS-13: The Making of America's Most Notorious Gang" and a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

Nathan Jaccard is based in Bogotá and coordinates OCCRP's cross-border investigations across Latin America. He previously covered Colombia's paramilitary peace process and human rights violations for VerdadAbierta.com and Semana. Author of three books examining criminal cartels, extractive industries, and violence against journalists in the region, he has won multiple journalism awards.

⁨Julia Wallace is deputy editor in chief at OCCRP, overseeing global investigations and editorial operations. An award-winning veteran journalist, she previously reported across Southeast Asia for outlets including The New York Times and The Atlantic. Julia will be moderating this discussion.


** Thursday, Feb 5, 2026
8 a.m. PST / 11 a.m. EST / 5 p.m. CET
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