Appearing before a US federal court for the first time, deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro entered a plea of not guilty on Monday to a broad range of criminal charges, including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. His appearance came only days after his dramatic seizure from the presidential palace in Caracas, an operation that sent shockwaves through the international community and left authorities in the Venezuelan capital struggling to respond to the sudden turn of events.
Addressing the court as he pleaded innocent, Maduro told the judge, “I was captured,” emphasizing what he described as the forced nature of his transfer to the United States. He went on to assert his personal integrity and political status, saying, “I am a decent man, the president of my country.” When asked again to respond to the charges, Maduro reiterated his position even more firmly, stating, “I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here.” Throughout the brief hearing, he repeatedly maintained that he remains the legitimate leader of Venezuela, despite being removed from power.
Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, who was also flown to the United States following his capture, appeared alongside him and likewise entered a plea of not guilty. Speaking in Spanish through an interpreter, Flores identified herself as the first lady of the Republic of Venezuela when asked to state her identity for the record. She rejected all accusations against her, telling the court that she was “not guilty” and “completely innocent” of the charges.
The 63-year-old Maduro is facing four major charges, including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. US authorities allege that he played a central role in coordinating large-scale cocaine trafficking operations in collaboration with criminal and militant groups such as Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombia’s FARC rebels, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua.
Maduro has consistently denied all such allegations over the years, arguing that the accusations are politically motivated. His defence maintains that the charges are part of a broader campaign by Washington to undermine his leadership, particularly in the aftermath of Venezuela’s contested 2018 presidential election. Maduro has long claimed that the case against him is merely a cover for what he describes as imperial ambitions aimed at gaining control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
The US government, for its part, has regarded Maduro as an illegitimate ruler since the 2018 election, which was widely criticized by international observers and opposition groups for alleged irregularities. Federal prosecutors in New York first indicted him in 2020, and the case has since expanded. An updated indictment made public on Saturday added new charges and named additional co-defendants, including Flores.
According to prosecutors, Maduro’s alleged criminal conduct dates back to his time as a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly in 2000 and continued through his subsequent roles as foreign minister and, later, president after succeeding Hugo Chávez in 2013. The indictment claims he maintained ties with powerful international criminal organizations and misused state resources to facilitate drug trafficking operations.
Maduro’s capture triggered swift and intense reactions both inside Venezuela and abroad. On Monday, Venezuelan authorities issued an emergency order instructing police to detain anyone found supporting the US raid. At the international level, the United Nations Security Council convened to debate the legality and broader consequences of the operation. Russia, China, and several leftist allies of Venezuela strongly condemned the US action.
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, voiced concerns about the potential for increased instability in Venezuela and questioned the legality of the intervention. He described it as the most significant US military action in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. International law experts echoed these concerns, warning that the raid could weaken global adherence to a rules-based international order.
On Monday morning, Maduro and Flores were escorted from a Brooklyn detention facility under heavy security. Armed guards wearing tactical gear accompanied them as they were transported by helicopter to the courthouse. As the legal proceedings move forward and diplomatic tensions continue to escalate, Venezuelan officials remain focused on managing the political fallout from the unprecedented developments surrounding Maduro’s arrest and prosecution.
