Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York federal court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracy.
Maduro, who was abducted by US special forces just two days earlier, adamantly declared his innocence and stressed that he is still the legitimate president of Venezuela.
The charges were formally read by Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who asked Maduro to enter a plea. Maduro responded defiantly, saying, “I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here.” Handcuffed and dressed in a prison uniform, Maduro was escorted into court with his wife, Cilia Flores, who was also facing charges. The couple had been transferred under heavy guard from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
After the brief arraignment, where the charges were presented, Maduro declared to reporters outside the courthouse that he was “a prisoner of war” and vowed to fight for his freedom. He reiterated that he had been “kidnapped” by US forces and emphasized that he remains the president of Venezuela.
Maduro’s abduction capped months of increasing pressure from the US, which had conducted military operations targeting drug vessels off the Venezuelan coast, resulting in the deaths of at least 115 individuals. Caracas has firmly denied any links to drug trafficking, calling the US intervention part of a broader effort to overthrow Maduro’s government and seize control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
US President Donald Trump, who authorized the assault on Venezuela, has been vocal about his administration’s intentions. He made statements suggesting that the US would take a dominant role in Venezuela’s oil industry and hinted at further military actions, including against Colombia, if Venezuela’s new interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, does not comply with US demands.
Rodríguez, Maduro’s vice president and trusted ally, was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president just hours after the kidnapping, receiving strong backing from the Venezuelan military. She condemned the US operation as a violation of international law and reaffirmed Maduro’s position as the country’s rightful president. Despite Trump’s threats and ongoing pressure, Rodríguez has expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with the US, though the threat of further military intervention looms over the nation.
Source: Al-Ahed News
