Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other criminal charges in a US federal court in New York, insisting that he still remains the ‘legitimate president of Venezuela.’
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by US forces over the weekend in a dramatic operation ordered by US President Donald Trump.
‘I’m Innocent,’ Maduro tells court
Appearing before a federal judge in Manhattan, the 63-year-old Maduro said, “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty,” as the charges were read out.
His wife also pleaded not guilty. Smiling as he entered the courtroom, Maduro spoke softly through a Spanish interpreter, wearing an orange shirt and beige trousers.
“I’m president of the Republic of Venezuela and I’m here kidnapped since January 3,” Maduro told the court, claiming he was seized from his home in Caracas.
Gunfire and anti-aircraft firing reported in Caracas amid drone sighting
Gunfire and anti-aircraft firing were reported in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, on Monday evening, creating panic among residents.
CNN reported videos showing anti-aircraft guns firing into the sky and the sound of gunshots echoing across the city.
The incident is believed to have been caused by confusion and miscommunication between different security units deployed in the capital.
A local resident near Urdaneta Avenue, close to the Miraflores presidential palace, told CNN that gunfire could be clearly heard in the area.
A White House official stated that the US was monitoring the situation but clarified that it had no involvement in the incident.
Authorities later reported that the situation returned to normal after security personnel fired at an unidentified drone flying near the presidential palace.
Detention and next hearing
After the hearing, Maduro and Flores were transferred to a Brooklyn detention facility. According to US media reports, the couple is not seeking bail at this stage and will remain in custody at MDC-Brooklyn. The court completed preliminary proceedings, scheduling the next hearing for March 17.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein warned Maduro that his public statements could be used against him later, adding that detailed legal arguments would be heard in subsequent hearings.
Delcy Rodrigues took charge as acting president
After Maduro was captured and put in the New York Jail, Delcy took charge as an acting president. This did not sit well with Donald Trump. The US president said that Delcy must give ‘full access’ of Venezuela to US or she must face consequences that he described ‘much worse than Maduro’.
Delcy extends invitation to US to work together
Soon after Delcy took over as acting president she took to her Instagram and issued a message for the world and US, calling for peace and cooperation.
In a post on Instagram, she said, “A message from Venezuela to the world, and to the United States: Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to peace and peaceful coexistence. Our country aspires to live without external threats, in an environment of respect and international cooperation. We believe that global peace is built by first guaranteeing peace within each nation. We prioritise moving towards balanced and respectful international relations between the United States and Venezuela, and between Venezuela and other countries in the region, premised on sovereign equality and non-interference. These principles guide our diplomacy with the rest of the world.”
A 25-page indictment made public on January 3 accuses Maduro and others of working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the US. They could face life in prison if convicted.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been under US sanctions for years, making it illegal for any American to take money from them without first securing a license from the Treasury Department.
