U.S. judges quietly unsealed indictments charging two former top Venezuelan police officials with drug trafficking late last month, an action likely to fuel further tensions between Washington and the administration of embattled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Judges in the southern district of Florida unsealed indictments against Pedro Luís Martín, a former head of financial intelligence for Venezuela’s secret police, and Jesús Alfredo Itriago, a former antinarcotics official with Venezuela’s investigative police.

U.S. law-enforcement officials consider Mr. Martín to be a major player in Venezuela’s burgeoning drug-trafficking industry. U.S. officials believe he is a key liaison between drug traffickers and top figures in Venezuela’s military, security services and government who protect the trade.

People familiar with the case say U.S. officials consider Mr. Martín the main financial manager who launders drug-trafficking proceeds for top Venezuelan officials.

“Pedro Luís Martín is huge,” says Joaquín Pérez, a Miami-based defense lawyer who has defended many Venezuelan and Colombian drug dealers. “He’s the power behind the throne, the one who moves the pieces.”