US authorities on Monday presented Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores before a federal court in New York. The case has drawn global attention due to the serious criminal charges filed against the Venezuelan leader.
Arrest and transfer to New York
US forces captured Maduro and his wife during a special operation in Venezuela on Saturday. Officials then flew them to New York under tight security. On Monday afternoon, authorities transported the couple by helicopter from the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn to a federal court in Manhattan.
They appeared before Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein at noon. The court appointed David Wickstrom as their legal counsel. Sources said the couple will likely plead not guilty. However, due to the gravity of the charges, bail remains highly unlikely.
Narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges
Federal prosecutors have filed multiple serious charges against Maduro. These include narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, money laundering, and illegal possession of automatic weapons. Investigators allege that Maduro used Venezuelan military networks and secret airstrips to transport large quantities of cocaine into the United States.
Legal experts warn that if the court proves these allegations, Maduro could face the harshest punishment under US law, including the death penalty. In a parallel move, Swiss authorities froze assets linked to Maduro, tightening international pressure.
Detention at high-security prison
Authorities are expected to remand the Maduro couple to judicial custody after the hearing. They are currently lodged at the MDC in Brooklyn, a prison known for strict security and harsh conditions. In the past, the facility held Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and former crypto executive Sam Bankman-Fried.
Protests outside court, security tightened
Outside the courthouse, hundreds of Maduro supporters and critics gathered, prompting police to deploy heavy security. Officials set up barricades and increased patrols to prevent clashes between the two groups.
Global focus on historic trial
As proceedings continue, the case is expected to remain under intense international scrutiny. The trial marks one of the most significant US prosecutions involving a sitting foreign leader, with far-reaching political and legal consequences.
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