Maduro in U.S. Custody: Venezuelan Ex-Leader to Face Court as Trump Government Faces Backlash
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is expected to appear in a Manhattan federal court this week, following his controversial capture by U.S. forces in Caracas, a move that has ignited legal, diplomatic and political firestorms inside the United States and overseas.
Maduro, 63, along with his wife Cilia Flores, was removed from power in a dramatic nighttime operation dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve.” U.S. military and intelligence personnel seized him from the Venezuelan capital and transported him to Brooklyn, where he now faces multiple narco-terrorism, drug trafficking conspiracy and weapons charges in the Southern District of New York.
The court hearing — scheduled for midday Monday in Manhattan federal court — could mark a historic moment, as Maduro becomes one of the highest-profile foreign leaders ever to be brought before the U.S. justice system. Prosecutors allege that he oversaw a sprawling state-sponsored cocaine network involving major international smuggling groups.
The legal case comes amid deep political division back home. President Donald Trump has framed the capture as a decisive blow to narcotics trafficking and organized crime, asserting that the U.S. will exert influence over Venezuela’s transition. But critics — including prominent Democrats and international leaders — have condemned the action as unlawful and destabilizing, raising constitutional questions about executive war powers and U.S. military intervention.
Inside Venezuela, the Supreme Court declared Maduro’s absence temporary, paving the way for Delcy Rodríguez, his former vice president, to assume the role of interim president. Rodríguez, backed by the Venezuelan military, has signaled a willingness to engage with U.S. officials even as her legitimacy remains contested.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado hailed Maduro’s removal as a potential turning point toward democratic governance, calling for the release of political prisoners and national renewal.
As Maduro’s arraignment nears, global scrutiny is mounting — from legal experts questioning the jurisdiction of U.S. courts in foreign political conflicts to allies and adversaries weighing in on geopolitical stability in South America.
