Venezuela: Maduro Arraigned in US Court Amid Protests

Toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to narcotics-related charges on Monday during his arraignment at a federal court in New York. The hearing followed his capture by United States forces on January 3 alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, after both were indicted over alleged involvement in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.

Maduro’s court appearance came as demonstrations erupted outside the federal courthouse, with crowds both opposing and celebrating his capture. Protesters were sharply divided: one group waved flags and held placards in support of U.S. President Donald Trump, while the other demanded Maduro’s release and denounced U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

Supporters of Maduro argued that his arrest amounted to foreign interference, while those backing the U.S. action expressed hope for Venezuela’s future without him in power. Police maintained separation between the rival groups using barricades. Among those gathered were several Venezuelan nationals.

At 63, Maduro faces four criminal counts, including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Addressing the court through an interpreter, he declared: “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country.”

U.S. prosecutors allege that Maduro oversaw a large-scale cocaine-trafficking network that collaborated with violent criminal and insurgent groups. These include Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombia’s FARC rebels, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Maduro has consistently denied the accusations, claiming they are a cover for imperialist ambitions aimed at Venezuela’s vast oil eserves.

Venezuela: Court Proceedings, Legal Defense and International Fallout

Cilia Flores also pleaded not guilty during the couple’s first court appearance. The case was adjourned to March 17. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein opened the hearing at 12:02pm (1702 GMT), summarising the charges laid out in the indictment.

Maduro appeared in orange and beige prison attire and listened to proceedings through headphones via an interpreter. Judge Hellerstein asked him to stand and confirm his identity, which he did in Spanish. The court also informed Maduro and Flores of their right to notify the Venezuelan consulate of their arrests.

According to prosecutors, Maduro’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking dates back to his time in Venezuela’s National Assembly in 2000, continued during his tenure as foreign minister, and extended into his presidency after his 2013 election as successor to the late Hugo Chavez.

Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said he expects extensive and complex litigation, describing his client’s arrest as a “military abduction.” He added that Maduro is not seeking release at this time but may pursue it later.

Meanwhile, Flores’s lawyer, Mark Donnelly, told the court that she suffered significant injuries during her arrest, including severe bruising to her ribs. He requested that she be provided with X-rays and a full physical evaluation.

Maduro was first indicted by federal prosecutors in New York in 2020 as part of a long-running narcotics trafficking investigation involving current and former Venezuelan officials, as well as Colombian guerrilla groups. An updated indictment released on Saturday introduced new details and additional co-defendants, including Flores.

The United States has long regarded Maduro as an illegitimate dictator since his claimed victory in the 2018 presidential election, which was marred by allegations of widespread irregularities. However, experts in international law have raised concerns about the legality of the raid that led to his arrest, with some condemning the operation as a rejection of a rules-based international order.