Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York federal courtroom on Monday following their reported abduction by US commandos. The couple faced charges of “narco-terrorism” and other allegations linked to drug trafficking. Handcuffed and dressed in blue prison uniforms, they listened to the proceedings through headsets translating the session into Spanish.
Maduro pleaded not guilty, telling US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein: “I was captured. I am innocent and a decent man, the president of my country.” Flores also denied the charges. The couple, along with their son and three others, could face life imprisonment if convicted, though observers note a lack of direct evidence connecting Maduro to drug cartels.
Maduro’s lawyers challenged the legality of the arrest, citing his status as a sovereign head of state, while the US does not recognize him as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. Pretrial hearings will examine these legal questions, with the next scheduled for March 17.
Outside the courthouse, Venezuelan supporters clashed with pro-intervention demonstrators, and thousands rallied in Caracas to express loyalty to Maduro. Venezuela’s government condemned the operation as an illegal attack, citing violations of international law and leader immunity, while US officials argued Maduro is responsible for destabilizing the region and drug trafficking.
The events have intensified scrutiny on Venezuela’s future. Interim officials, led by Delcy Rodriguez, have pledged to cooperate with Washington, though critics fear US influence over the country’s oil-rich resources. Maduro’s supporters remain defiant, promising to restore him to power despite the unprecedented US intervention.
