Maduro pleads not guilty to charges of narco-terrorism at New York court

Maduro on Monday appeared before a federal court in New York days after he was captured in a US military operation, a move that has added to political uncertainty in the oil-rich South American country.

Maduro, 63, and his wife Cilia Flores were brought to the Manhattan courthouse under tight security. Both were transferred from a Brooklyn jail to Manhattan by helicopter and were seen in handcuffs as they were moved in an armoured vehicle.

The couple appeared before US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. It remained unclear whether they had legal representation or whether they would enter pleas.

Maduro and his wife have been held in Brooklyn since US forces seized them from Caracas in a surprise weekend raid. The operation has drawn strong international reaction and is being seen as Washington’s most controversial intervention in Latin America since the 1989 Panama invasion.

The United States has refused to recognise Maduro since the 2018 presidential election, which Washington says was marred by widespread irregularities.

Prosecutors have accused Maduro of heading a network of Venezuelan political and military figures involved in large-scale cocaine trafficking in partnership with international criminal groups. They allege thousands of tonnes of cocaine were smuggled into the United States.

Maduro was first indicted in 2020 in a narcotics trafficking case involving serving and former Venezuelan officials and Colombian armed groups.

A fresh indictment unsealed on Saturday claims Maduro personally oversaw a state-sponsored drug trafficking enterprise that worked with Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombia’s FARC and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang.

He has been charged with narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and related conspiracy counts. If convicted, he faces decades to life imprisonment.

According to prosecutors, Maduro’s alleged involvement dates back to his time as a lawmaker in 2000, through his tenure as foreign minister from 2006 to 2013, and into his presidency following Hugo Chavez’s death.

The indictment further alleges that cocaine smuggling routes were protected by elements of the Venezuelan military and that diplomatic cover and documentation were misused to facilitate drug movements.

Maduro ruled Venezuela for over a decade, during which the country plunged into severe economic and social crisis.

His capture followed months of pressure from former US president Donald Trump, including actions targeting Venezuelan oil shipments and alleged drug-smuggling vessels.

The legality of the US raid has been questioned by international law experts, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning it could set a dangerous precedent. The UN Security Council was scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss the operation, while Russia and China have criticised Washington’s action.

Web Desk