January 5, 2026 – Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are scheduled to make their initial court appearance today in Manhattan federal court, marking a historic moment as a former head of state faces U.S. criminal charges on American soil.
The arraignment is set for noon ET before U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Lower Manhattan. Maduro, captured in a U.S. military operation in Caracas on January 3, faces charges stemming from a 2020 indictment that was superseded over the weekend.
Charges and Indictment Details
Maduro is accused of leading a narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and related offenses. Prosecutors allege that Maduro and his allies, including collaboration with Colombian FARC guerrillas, used Venezuela’s government institutions to facilitate the trafficking of tons of cocaine over decades, intentionally targeting the U.S. market.
His wife, Cilia Flores, faces charges of conspiracy to import cocaine. The superseding indictment also names Maduro’s son, Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, and several former Venezuelan officials.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi described the case as exposing a “vast criminal network” that corrupted Venezuelan institutions for drug trafficking. The charges carry potential life sentences if convicted.
The Capture and Transfer
On January 3, U.S. forces conducted a large-scale strike in Venezuela, capturing Maduro and Flores in what President Donald Trump called a successful operation to bring them to justice. The couple was initially transferred to a U.S. naval vessel before being flown to New York, where Maduro is detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Trump has stated that the U.S. will temporarily oversee aspects of Venezuela’s governance, particularly its oil resources, during the transition. Venezuela’s Supreme Court has named Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as acting president in Maduro’s absence.
International Reactions and Legal Precedents
The operation has drawn widespread condemnation from allies of Venezuela, including Russia, China, and North Korea, who view it as a violation of sovereignty. The UN Security Council is discussing the matter, with concerns raised about regional stability.
Legal experts draw parallels to the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama and subsequent trial of Manuel Noriega, who was convicted on similar drug trafficking charges. U.S. courts rejected Noriega’s claims of head-of-state immunity, citing the executive branch’s non-recognition of his leadership post-invasion—a precedent likely to apply here, as the U.S. has long not recognized Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president.
Defense arguments may challenge the manner of arrest, but precedents suggest U.S. courts rarely dismiss cases based on irregular extraditions or captures.
What to Expect Today
During today’s proceeding, Maduro and Flores are expected to enter not guilty pleas. The judge will address detention, with prosecutors likely seeking continued holding without bail given flight risk and national security concerns. A lengthy trial process is anticipated, potentially lasting years.
This case underscores escalating U.S. efforts against alleged narco-states and raises profound questions about international law, sovereignty, and the use of military force to enforce criminal indictments. As proceedings begin, global attention remains fixed on the courtroom in New York.
