Maduro arrives in NY court to face 'narco-terrorism' charges
DPA
Mon, January 5, 2026 at 2:44 PM UTC
1 min read
Deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro arrived for a hearing at a New York federal court on Monday, just two days after he was spectacularly detained during a US military operation.
He is facing multiple drugs charges including "narco-terrorism conspiracy" and weapons possession.
The court hearing has been scheduled for noon (1700 GMT).
Video footage broadcast by CNN showed that a helicopter and armoured vehicle were used to transport him to the court. Maduro was accompanied by officials from the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The authoritarian 63-year-old leader and his wife Cilia Flores were detained early Saturday during a US attack that targeted several parts of the country. They were then taken by helicopter and boat out of the country, in an operation that shocked the world and provoked both praise and outrage.
Maduro is alleged to have used his authority, which the United States considers illegally obtained, to enable thousands of tons of cocaine to be transported to the US.
Maduro is said to have personally benefited from this. He allegedly allied himself with drug traffickers, according to the allegations posted by US Attorney General Pam Bondi on the platform X.
Updated charges
Maduro had already been charged in the US with drug trafficking in 2020, so technically he is facing updated, rather than completely new, charges. His wife and son are co-defendants.
The allegations are also directed against the current and former interior ministers and a leader or co-leader of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua.