New York- Venezuela’s deposed president Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to drug trafficking and other criminal charges during his first appearance in a federal court in New York, two days after being captured by U.S. forces in a dramatic raid in Caracas.
Appearing before a judge in Manhattan, the 63-year-old former leader said through a Spanish interpreter that he was innocent and described his arrest as a kidnapping. Wearing an orange shirt and beige trousers, Maduro told the court he was still the president of Venezuela and claimed he had been forcibly taken from his home in Caracas on January 3.
“I’m innocent. I’m not guilty,” Maduro said, adding that he had been brought to the United States against his will. The judge, however, instructed him to limit his remarks to basic court formalities.
Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty to related charges. The court ordered both to remain in custody and scheduled the next hearing for March 17.
The courtroom appearance came amid heightened political tension in Venezuela, where thousands of Maduro supporters marched through Caracas as his former deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, was sworn in as interim president. Despite the demonstrations, international observers say the Maduro era appears to have effectively ended.
U.S. authorities said Maduro and Flores were detained during early-morning airstrikes on Caracas backed by warplanes and naval forces. Following the operation, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the United States was “in charge” of Venezuela and signaled intentions to take control of the country’s vast oil resources. He also ruled out the possibility of holding Venezuelan elections in the near future, saying the country must first be stabilized.
Maduro, who came to power in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chávez, has long been accused by the United States and the European Union of rigging elections, imprisoning political opponents and overseeing widespread corruption. His removal has deepened uncertainty for Venezuela’s roughly 30 million people after more than two decades of leftist rule.
Trump has indicated willingness to work with interim president Rodriguez and other figures from Maduro’s former administration, provided they comply with U.S. demands, particularly regarding oil. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, though production has been severely hampered by sanctions, mismanagement and deteriorating infrastructure.
Global markets reacted positively to developments, with shares of major U.S. oil companies rising sharply and major stock indices in the United States and the United Kingdom closing at record highs.
Former U.S. diplomat Brian Naranjo warned that Venezuela faces a volatile and dangerous transition period, cautioning that internal power struggles could further destabilize the country. International analysts and rights groups have also raised serious concerns that the U.S. operation in Caracas may have violated international law.
As investigations continue and geopolitical tensions rise, Venezuela’s political future remains uncertain, with the fallout from Maduro’s capture reverberating far beyond the country’s borders.
