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oppled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to U.S. narcotics charges following his dramatic capture by American special forces, an operation that has jolted global diplomacy and triggered political turmoil in Caracas.
Appearing in a New York federal court, the 63-year-old former leader denied four criminal counts including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of machine guns and explosive devices. Dressed in prison attire and speaking through an interpreter, Maduro declared himself innocent and insisted he remained Venezuela's legitimate president before being interrupted by the judge.
Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, who was seized alongside him during the weekend raid in Caracas, also entered a not-guilty plea. Their next court appearance was scheduled for March 17. Outside the courthouse, demonstrators both supporting and opposing Maduro gathered under heavy police presence.
U.S. prosecutors accuse Maduro of overseeing a vast cocaine-trafficking network that allegedly collaborated with Mexican cartels, Colombian guerrilla groups and Venezuela-based criminal organizations. Authorities say the operation stretched back decades, spanning his rise from legislator to foreign minister and eventually president.
Maduro has consistently rejected the accusations, portraying them as politically motivated efforts by Washington to gain control of Venezuela's vast oil reserves. President Donald Trump has openly stated his intention to reopen the country's energy
sector to U.S. companies, comments that sent shares of several oil firms higher on Monday.
The raid has sparked sharp international criticism. Russia and China condemned the operation at the United Nations, while Secretary-General António Guterres raised concerns over sovereignty and regional stability. Legal scholars have questioned the legality of forcibly detaining a sitting head of state, even one no longer recognized by Washington.
In Caracas, senior officials initially denounced the capture as a "kidnapping" before signaling a possible shift toward dialogue. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, sworn in on Sunday, called for cooperation with the United States while praising Maduro and Flores as national heroes.
Maduro's defense team said it would challenge the circumstances of his arrest, describing it as a military abduction that violated international law. Flores' attorney said she sustained injuries during the operation and requested immediate medical evaluations.
