Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, former First Lady Cilia Flores, appeared in court in New York on Monday to face federal charges related to drugs and weapons. Maduro claimed in court that he and his wife were "kidnapped" by the U.S. military and described themselves as "prisoners of war," emphasizing their complete innocence. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
"I've been kidnapped": Maduro claims U.S. military illegally abducted him.
During his appearance in Manhattan federal court in New York, Maduro, through an interpreter, told Judge Alvin Hellerstein that he and his wife were abducted by U.S. troops from their Caracas home last Saturday, claiming it was a military operation launched on the orders of President Donald Trump. He said, "I was kidnapped, I am a prisoner of war."
Flores, in court, identified herself as the "First Lady of the Republic of Venezuela" and insisted that she was "completely innocent."
The injured woman appeared in court, and her lawyer requested medical assistance.
Flores appeared in court with a visibly bruised forehead. Her lawyer requested the court to allow prison authorities to provide medical assistance, stating that Flores may have suffered a rib injury during her arrest and needed an X-ray to confirm the injury.
The two have agreed to be held without bail, but may apply for bail in the future. The next hearing is scheduled for March 17.
Maduro faces felony charges related to drugs and arms.
According to the indictment filed by U.S. prosecutors, 63-year-old Maduro faces multiple felony charges, including:
Drug terrorism conspiracy
Conspiracy to import cocaine
Illegal possession of machine guns and weapons of mass destruction
Conspiracy to possess weapons
Flores, 69, was charged with cocaine smuggling and conspiracy to smuggle weapons. Both pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The indictment accuses the Maduro government of colluding with drug lords for years.
The 25-page indictment alleges that Maduro led a "corrupt and illegitimate government" for a long time, abusing state power to provide sanctuary for drug trafficking. The indictment states:
"This drug corruption cycle enriches Venezuelan officials and their families while allowing violent drug cartels to operate with impunity within Venezuela, assisting in the manufacture, protection, and smuggling of large quantities of cocaine to the United States."
Maduro has been accused of allying with drug traffickers and drug terrorist organizations, and of smuggling tens of tons of cocaine into the United States over the years.
Flores was implicated in bribery allegations and had arranged meetings between high-ranking officials and drug dealers.
The indictment mentions a specific incident involving Flores around 2007. She is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to arrange a meeting between a major drug trafficker and Nestor Reverol Torres, then head of Venezuela's National Anti-Drug Office.
According to prosecutors, the drug trafficker subsequently bribed Revier regularly, including paying approximately $100,000 in protection money for each drug-carrying flight, and a portion of this money also went to Flores.
Reverol is currently wanted by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and remains at large.
The Trump administration's methods of arresting people have sparked controversy, contrasting with the case of the Honduran president.
The arrest has raised questions about its legality, especially after Trump recently pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was convicted in 2024 of colluding with drug traffickers to smuggle cocaine into the United States.
Maduro's defense lawyer, Barry Pollack, who previously represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, stated that Maduro, as a head of state, should enjoy sovereign immunity. He also pointed out that the legality of Maduro's "military abduction" will be one of the key points of the upcoming proceedings, with "a large number of documents" to be submitted to the court in the future.
The lawsuit also implicates Maduro's son and several high-ranking officials.
This indictment targets not only Maduro and his wife, but also the following defendants who have not yet been arrested:
Maduro's son: Nicholas Ernesto Maduro Guella
Venezuelan Interior Minister: Diosdado Cabello
Former Interior Minister: Ramon Rodriguez Chasing
Gang leader: Hector Rustonfo Guerrero Flores (identified as the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang)
Prosecutors pointed out that these individuals, together with the Maduro regime, used the state apparatus to engage in drug trafficking and arms possession for enormous profits.
The prosecution is full of confidence: They have no doubts about filing charges.
"As far as my team is concerned, we are very confident about this indictment," Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in an interview with CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday morning.
The case is still in its early stages and is expected to generate intense legal battles over international law, diplomatic immunity, and the war on drugs in the coming months.
This article, titled "Maduro Appears in US Court Claiming He Was Kidnapped, Claims to be a Prisoner of War, and Denies Drug Charges," first appeared on ABMedia ABMedia .
