On January 5, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores appeared at the US Federal Court in Manhattan.
President Maduro denied all charges against him, asserting: “I’m president of the Republic of Venezuela and I’m here kidnapped since January 3. I was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela.I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country.”
The US Department of Justice announced on January 3 that it had indicted President Maduro on charges related to narco-trafficking, based on an indictment originally filed in 2020.
The indictment lists charges of narcoterrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and conspiracy to possess and use machine guns and destructive devices.
US prosecutors included First Lady Flores in the case, claiming she was involved in coordinating meetings and logistics for the drug network.
The case is being presided over by US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein. President Maduro is represented by criminal defense attorney Barry Pollack, famous for his role in securing the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 2014.
The 2025 UNODC (UN Office on Drugs and Crime) Report reveals that only 5% of Colombian drugs attempt to transit through Venezuela, and the vast majority of those are seized and confiscated by Venezuelan authorities. Annual reports over the past 30 years have not linked Venezuela to narco-trafficking.
Meanwhile, reports on January 5 confirmed that First Lady Flores sustained severe injuries during her kidnapping on January 3. Her attorney, Donnelly, urged for an immediate medical examination, stating that she suffered “significant injuries,” including possible fractures and a severe rib hematoma, and that “the injuries are visible to the naked eye.” In response, Judge Hellerstein directed the defense lawyers to cooperate with the prosecution to ensure necessary medical care.
