Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in Manhattan federal court on Monday, following their capture by U.S. forces in a military operation in Caracas. They pleaded not guilty to charges including narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices, with Maduro declaring, "I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country."
The hearing was presided over by U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, who read the standard rights and confirmed their identities before the plea. Both defendants, wearing orange prison garb and shackled, were escorted into the courtroom and listened to the proceedings through headphones with interpreters.
The four-count superseding indictment accuses Maduro of conspiring with violent drug traffickers—including Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombia’s FARC rebels, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang—for over 25 years, allegedly enriching himself and his allies through cocaine trafficking.
The charges include narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices Flores faces three counts related to the cocaine conspiracy Judge Hellerstein confirmed the couple’s identities, informed them of their rights, including the right to consult with Venezuelan consular officials, and allowed them to keep notes taken during the hearing. Maduro attempted to elaborate on his capture and asserted his presidency, prompting the judge to interrupt him.
Maduro’s attorney, Barry Pollack, signaled that the defense may challenge the legality of the military abduction, while Flores’s attorney, Mark Donnelly, reported she sustained significant injuries, including a bruise on her head and possible rib fractures, and requested medical evaluation. The next court date is set for March 17, 2026, and neither defendant requested bail at this time.
The couple is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and will remain there unless a future bail application is approved Maduro’s legal team has indicated that the case will involve complex litigation over the legality of his military abduction, potentially delaying any trial for years.
Maduro and Flores were captured during a U.S. military operation in Caracas, described by President Donald Trump as a "large-scale strike" involving approximately 200 U.S. forces, including elite Delta Force operatives, who stormed Maduro’s residence by helicopter.
The operation was conducted in coordination with U.S. law enforcement, and the couple was flown to New York via helicopter, with their transfer from a Brooklyn detention center to the Manhattan courthouse heavily secured and televised. Trump said the U.S. is now "in charge" of Venezuela and plans to open its oil sector to American companies, though no consultation with major oil firms occurred prior to the capture.
Maduro's Son Addresses Venezuelan National Assembly Following Father's Capture By The U.S.
Meanwhile, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, son of the ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, delivered a defiant speech before the Venezuelan National Assembly on Monday, following his father’s capture by U.S. military forces in Caracas. He denounced the operation as a "kidnapping" and declared that his father and "second mother" were illegally seized, warning that normalizing such actions threatens global stability and the sovereignty of all nations.
Maduro Guerra called on the international community to show solidarity with Venezuela and pledged his family’s support to interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, saying, “The homeland is in good hands, dad, and we will hug each other soon here in Venezuela.”
Maduro Guerra referred to his father as "President Maduro" and insisted that the U.S. raid was an act of imperialism that could endanger any nation that refuses to submit. He warned that if the world accepts the abduction of a head of state, "no country is safe. Today, it is Venezuela. Tomorrow, it could be any nation that decides not to submit."
He described the situation as a "dangerous regression" to imperialist practices and emphasized that the issue is not regional but a direct threat to global stability and the sovereign equality of nations.
Maduro Guerra pledged unconditional support to Delcy Rodríguez, the former vice president who was sworn in as interim leader, and declared, “Count on me, count on my family, and count on our firmness in taking the right steps forward in this responsibility you have been given today.”
He also issued a message to the Venezuelan people via social media, saying, “You will see us on the streets” of Venezuela and that “history will tell who the traitors were.”
Jorge Rodríguez, the interim president's brother, was also sworn in as President of National Assembly of Venezuela. "You will have in me a President of the National Assembly who will not fear dialogue, but who will also demand discipline and respect for the opinions of others," he said. "I swear that in this difficult moment for our nation, in this moment when the people are asking what our destiny will be and what will become of our leaders, we can say with confidence that together we will always prevail. I swear it.”
The capture has triggered global controversy. The United Nations Security Council debated the legality of the raid, with Russia, China, and Venezuela’s allies condemning it as a violation of international law. The U.S. State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio, has labeled Maduro an illegitimate dictator since his disputed 2018 election.
In Venezuela, Vice President Rodriguez was sworn in as interim leader and vowed to defend the country against U.S. aggression, though she later invited U.S. cooperation within international law.
Domestically, a political storm has erupted in the U.S., with 72% of Americans expressing concern over increased U.S. involvement in Venezuela, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
