Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have on Monday 5th January, 2026, pleaded not guilty to multiple federal drug trafficking and weapons charges, days after their dramatic capture by U.S. military forces and transfer to New York for prosecution.
The couple appeared before U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein at the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan under heavy security. They were transported earlier in the day by helicopter from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn to a Manhattan heliport before being driven in a motorcade to the courthouse.
Speaking through an interpreter, Maduro proclaimed his innocence during the arraignment. “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty — I’m a decent man,” he told the court, adding that he is “still president of my country.”
Maduro is being represented by veteran defense attorney Barry Pollack, who previously represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and was involved in negotiations that led to Assange’s 2024 plea deal with U.S. authorities. Flores is represented by Texas-based lawyer Mark Donnelly, according to court filings.
Protesters gathered outside the courthouse ahead of the proceedings as the high-profile case formally entered what is expected to be months of pretrial litigation. Judge Hellerstein said his responsibility was to ensure both defendants receive fair treatment and due process.
Defense lawyers told the court that neither Maduro nor Flores is currently seeking release on bail, though they may make such a request at a later date.
Pollack informed the court that Maduro has underlying health conditions requiring medical attention. Flores’ attorney said she may have suffered fractured ribs or severe bruising during the operation that led to her capture. Judge Hellerstein ordered that both defendants receive appropriate medical care.
In a statement issued after the hearing, Flores’ legal team said their client remains optimistic. “Our client is in good spirits. We look forward to reviewing and challenging the evidence the government has,” the statement said, adding that Flores understands “there is a long road ahead and is prepared.”
Maduro and his wife were apprehended on Saturday and flown to New York following what U.S. President Donald Trump described as a “large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader.” The operation followed months of U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean and sustained pressure on Maduro to relinquish power.
On Monday, longtime Maduro ally Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as vice president, was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president.
Maduro faces four counts, including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and weapons-related offenses. The indictment, unsealed on Saturday, also names four co-defendants — including Maduro’s son and Venezuela’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello — none of whom have been taken into custody.
Federal prosecutors allege that Maduro led what they described as a “corrupt, illegitimate government” that used state power to facilitate international drug trafficking. The indictment accuses Maduro of helping flood the United States with “thousands of tons of cocaine” while enriching himself, his family, and senior Venezuelan officials.
Maduro was first indicted by U.S. authorities in March 2020 during the Trump administration. The newly unsealed superseding indictment expands the case, alleging that for more than 25 years, Maduro and his associates worked with drug cartels — including Tren de Aragua — to manufacture, protect, and transport cocaine to the United States.
“This cycle of narcotics-based corruption lines the pockets of Venezuelan officials and their families,” the indictment states, “while also benefiting narco-terrorists who operate with impunity on Venezuelan soil.”
While Maduro maintains his innocence and insists he remains Venezuela’s legitimate president, his next court appearance is expected on March 17, 2026.
