Deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro on Monday pleaded not guilty to multiple narcotics-related charges during his arraignment at a federal court in New York, as rival groups of protesters gathered outside the courthouse.
Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested by United States forces on January 3 and later indicted for their alleged roles in a narco-terrorism conspiracy. Both appeared in court for the first time on Monday and entered not-guilty pleas.
Their arraignment coincided with demonstrations by supporters and critics of the former leader. Protesters were separated by police barricades, with one group waving flags and placards in support of U.S. President Donald Trump, while the other demanded Maduro’s release and condemned what they described as U.S. interference in Venezuelan affairs. Some of those present were Venezuelan nationals.
Maduro faces four criminal counts, including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Speaking through an interpreter, he told the court: “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country.”
U.S. prosecutors allege that Maduro led a cocaine-trafficking network that collaborated with violent criminal and insurgent groups, including Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombia’s FARC rebels, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Maduro has consistently denied the accusations, describing them as a pretext for foreign control over Venezuela’s oil resources.
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Flores also pleaded not guilty. Her lawyer, Mark Donnelly, told the court that she suffered significant injuries during her arrest, including severe bruising to her ribs, and requested medical imaging and a physical examination.
The hearing began shortly after noon, with U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein summarising the charges. Dressed in beige and orange prison clothing, Maduro listened through headphones as the proceedings were translated into Spanish. The judge advised the couple of their right to notify the Venezuelan consulate of their detention.
Prosecutors said the alleged drug trafficking activities dated back to Maduro’s time in the National Assembly in 2000, continued during his tenure as foreign minister, and extended through his presidency following the death of Hugo Chávez in 2013.
Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said the defence expected extensive litigation, describing his client’s arrest as a “military abduction.” He added that Maduro was not seeking release at this stage but may do so later.
The case was adjourned until March 17.
U.S. authorities first indicted Maduro in 2020 as part of a broader investigation into narcotics trafficking involving current and former Venezuelan officials and Colombian guerrillas. A revised indictment released on Saturday added new details and named Flores as a co-defendant.
The United States has refused to recognise Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader since his disputed re-election in 2018. Meanwhile, several international law experts have questioned the legality of his capture, with critics warning that the operation undermines the global rules-based order.