NEW YORK — Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to federal drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges in his first appearance before a United States court, forcefully protesting what he described as his unlawful capture by U.S. forces in Caracas.
“I was captured,” Maduro told the court in Spanish, speaking through an interpreter, before being interrupted by the judge. When formally asked for his plea, he said: “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country.” His wife, Cilia Flores, who appeared alongside him, also entered a plea of not guilty.
Maduro’s appearance before the U.S. District Court in Manhattan marked the opening of one of the most consequential prosecutions of a foreign leader in modern U.S. history. The case stems from charges the Trump administration cited to justify a surprise military operation over the weekend that resulted in the seizure of Maduro and Flores from their residence inside a Venezuelan military base.
Brought to court under heavy security, Maduro, 63, was flown by helicopter from a detention facility in Brooklyn and transported to the courthouse in an armored vehicle. Both he and Flores wore jail-issued clothing and leg restraints and used headsets to follow the proceedings, which were conducted in English and translated into Spanish.
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, 92, curtailed Maduro’s repeated attempts to argue that he had been kidnapped, telling him there would be “a time and place” for such claims. The judge first confirmed the defendant’s identity, to which Maduro responded, “I am Nicolás Maduro Moros.”
Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said the defense would challenge the legality of what he called a “military abduction” and argue that Maduro, as head of a sovereign state, is entitled to immunity from U.S. criminal jurisdiction. The United States, however, does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president, particularly following his widely disputed 2024 reelection.
A similar immunity defense was unsuccessfully raised by former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega after his capture during the 1990 U.S. invasion of Panama.
Flores identified herself in court as the “first lady of the Republic of Venezuela.” Her lawyer, Mark Donnelly, said she sustained “significant injuries” during her capture, noting visible bandages on her forehead and right temple.
A 25-page indictment unsealed by U.S. prosecutors accuses Maduro, Flores, and other associates of conspiring with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States. If convicted, they could face life imprisonment. The indictment further alleges that the defendants ordered kidnappings, assaults, and killings to enforce drug debts and silence rivals, including the murder of a local drug boss in Caracas.
Outside the courthouse, police separated protesters opposing the U.S. military action from those supporting it. Inside the courtroom, a man in the gallery shouted that Maduro was an “illegitimate” president as proceedings concluded. As he was led away by deputy U.S. marshals, Maduro responded in Spanish: “I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war.”
The criminal case is unfolding amid heightened geopolitical tensions following President Donald Trump’s declaration that the United States would temporarily “run” Venezuela. Trump reiterated over the weekend that Washington was “in charge” and would “fix” the country, remarks that drew international criticism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later adopted a more cautious tone, saying the U.S. would not govern Venezuela day to day, apart from enforcing an existing “oil quarantine.”
Trump has suggested that Maduro’s removal could allow increased Venezuelan oil production, though oil prices rose 1.7% on Monday amid uncertainty over governance and the state of the country’s neglected energy sector.
Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, demanded Maduro’s return and condemned what she described as an illegitimate military aggression. Sworn in on Monday by National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez, she expressed “sorrow for the kidnapping of two heroes,” while also signaling openness to “respectful relations” with Washington.
Maduro’s son, Venezuelan lawmaker Nicolás Maduro Guerra, warned that his father’s capture could set a dangerous global precedent. “If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe,” he said.
The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Monday, with senior U.N. officials warning that the unilateral U.S. action may have violated international law and underscoring Venezuela’s deep humanitarian crisis.
Legal experts say the case will test the limits of U.S. jurisdiction over foreign leaders, as courts weigh domestic criminal statutes against principles of sovereignty and head-of-state immunity under international law.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
