Nicolás Maduro Faces U.S. Court Over Narco-Terrorism Charges

Wed Jan 07 2026 05:45:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife will appear in a Manhattan courtroom today, following their military capture by U.S. forces. The case brings to light longstanding accusations of narco-terrorism against Maduro and his regime.

Nicolás Maduro, the deposed Venezuelan president, will appear in a New York court today facing narco-terrorism charges. His legal team aims to argue that he is immune as a former head of state, amid a backdrop of U.S. claims linking him to drug trafficking operations. The case could reshape U.S.-Venezuela relations and has triggered varying responses from both nations.

NEW YORK (AP) — Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to make his first appearance Monday in an American courtroom to face narco-terrorism charges that the Trump administration used to justify his capture and subsequent extradition to New York.

The court appearance, scheduled for noon, marks a significant moment not only for Maduro but also for U.S.-Venezuela relations. Maduro and his wife will likely engage in a brief preliminary hearing that may spark a lengthy legal battle over the legality of his arrest and whether he is eligible for prosecution as a sovereign head of state.

The deposed leader's attorneys are expected to contest the legitimacy of the charges, claiming immunity similar to defenses attempted by other regimes in the past, such as Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega during his trial in the 1990s.

While U.S. law enforcement authorities allege that Maduro was complicit in drug trafficking operations in coordination with criminal organizations, the state does not currently acknowledge him as Venezuela's legitimate head, especially after a disputed reelection in 2024.

The couple's arrival at the Manhattan courthouse will create a striking scene, given its proximity to the location where former President Donald Trump was recently convicted.

Maduro’s defense is poised to argue that he should not stand trial in the U.S., a move that complicates what could become a contentious courtroom showdown. The 25-page indictment issued Saturday accuses him and others of orchestrating a drug trafficking network for the cartels, which could lead to life sentences if convicted.

Amid these developments, the newly appointed interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, is vocalizing demands for Maduro’s return while simultaneously urging collaborative relations with the U.S. in a social media post.

This ongoing situation underscores the precarious nature of U.S. interventions and the implications that might arise from Maduro's trial, not only for Venezuela but also for the broader geopolitical landscape.