In Manhattan, New York, former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleaded “not guilty” to the charges against him during his first appearance in US federal court on January 5, 2026. He was accompanied by his wife, Cilia Flores, who also denied the charges.
Two days after his capture during a controversial US military operation in Caracas, Maduro was transferred under high security to the United States, where he is being held in a federal facility in Brooklyn, awaiting further legal proceedings.
The American accusations
The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted Maduro and several close associates — including his wife and son — for a series of serious crimes. The indictment includes:
- Narcoterrorism conspiracy ;
- Conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States ;
- Possession and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
According to the prosecution, Maduro used his political power to facilitate the flow of massive quantities of cocaine to the United States and to foster alliances with cartels and narco-terrorist groups.
During the appearance, Maduro firmly denied any responsibility for the facts with which he is accused, presenting himself as innocent and rejecting the legitimacy of the procedures. This not guilty plea is a normal step in the American justice system and allows the defense to later challenge the charges or conditions of detention in the months to come.
The defense is expected to raise legal arguments including the immunity of foreign heads of state and the legality of his arrest and transfer to the United States. This debate could have important implications for the rest of the trial.
Context and international reactions
The operation that led to Maduro’s arrest sparked a wave of international reactions. Several countries and organizations, including members of the United Nations, have expressed concerns about respect for international law and Venezuela’s sovereignty.
In the United States, this affair is part of a broader policy of combating transnational drug trafficking and putting pressure on regimes considered to be “narco-states”.
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