Moments before the door opened in a New York federal courtroom, the sound of leg shackles echoed through the room. Then Nicolás Maduro walked in — the man who once led Venezuela — now dressed in jail clothes. And his first claim was: he had been “kidnapped”, DKNews.kz reports.
Facing reporters and the public, Maduro said:
“I am Nicolás Maduro, President of the Republic of Venezuela. And I’ve been kidnapped since January 3rd.”
A tense hearing, interruptions — and bold statements
Judge Alvin Hellerstein cut him off gently:
“There will be a time and a place to discuss all of that.”
From there, the hearing turned to the charges.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to accusations that include:
- narco-terrorism conspiracy
- cocaine importation conspiracy
- possession and conspiracy involving weapons and explosives
“I’m innocent. I’m a decent man,” Maduro said. Flores added softly: “I’m completely innocent.”
The couple had been arrested in Venezuela during a surprise U.S. operation, which included strikes on military facilities, and were then flown to New York.
Prison uniforms, translators and a yellow legal pad
Both appeared in blue-and-orange jail shirts and khaki pants. They wore headphones for translation, with an attorney seated between them.
Maduro carefully took notes on a yellow legal pad — and even asked the judge for permission to keep it afterward.
At one point, a man shouted from the public gallery that Maduro would “pay” for his crimes.
Maduro responded:
“I am a president — and a prisoner of war!”
Security escorted the man out in tears.
Emotion inside the courtroom
For many in the room, the moment felt surreal.
Venezuelan journalist Maibort Petit said missile strikes during the operation damaged her family home near Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas.
“Watching my former leader walk into court in prison clothing — it didn’t feel real,” she said.
Flores sat quietly with visible bandages near her eyes and forehead — her lawyers asked that she receive proper medical care and scans.
Who else is involved — and what’s next
U.S. authorities accuse Maduro of building a criminal network around drug trafficking.
Also charged are:
- his son, Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra
- former senior security officials
- an alleged leader of the Tren de Aragua gang
Rewards have been offered for information leading to some arrests.
The next court hearing is scheduled for March 17. For now, both Maduro and Flores will remain in federal custody.
