Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife arrived at the US federal court in Manhattan on Monday to appear before American judges in his first hearing since his arrest by US forces during a controversial security operation last Saturday, according to US media .
Maduro faces charges related to international drug trafficking, money laundering, and conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the United States, charges that have been pending since 2020 when the US Department of Justice placed him on its most-wanted list.
Maduro’s appearance in U.S. court is receiving widespread international attention, given the sensitivity of the case and its potential impact on relations between Washington and Caracas, with strong condemnation from Venezuela’s allies, including Cuba and Nicaragua, which described his arrest as “external aggression” and “illegal kidnapping.”
Maduro was transported to New York on a private plane under heavy security following a “special” operation carried out by a US special unit, which Washington said was coordinated with allied countries in the region.
Details of the formal indictment are expected to be presented in today’s session, with the decision on whether Maduro will remain in custody during his trial or be granted conditional bail to be determined later.
It is worth noting that in the early hours of Saturday, US forces carried out strikes and bombings in Caracas and other areas of the country, forcibly abducting Maduro and his wife.
