Maduro and Flores Appear in Manhattan Federal Court On January 5, 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores entered U.S. District Court in Manhattan, each entering a not‑guilty plea to four federal counts that include narco‑terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices [1][2]. Both defendants wore blue jail uniforms with salmon undershirts and used headsets to follow the proceedings, while Judge Alvin Hellerstein waived a formal reading of the indictment after the attorneys provided a summary [2]. The hearing lasted only minutes, during which Maduro declared he remained Venezuela’s president and insisted he had been “kidnapped” by U.S. forces [1][2].

U.S. Operation That Brought Maduro to New York The capture followed a rapid U.S.–backed raid on Caracas that employed helicopters, warplanes and a heavy naval deployment, involving roughly 200 personnel and resulting in Cuban casualties but no U.S. service‑member deaths, though some were wounded [1]. The United Nations Security Council debated the legality of the strike, with Russia, China and Maduro’s allies condemning the action, while Caracas issued an emergency order to hunt anyone who aided the U.S. attack [1]. Prosecutors describe Maduro as overseeing a cocaine‑trafficking network linked to Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, FARC rebels and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang [1].

Defense Plans to Contest Legality and Head‑of‑State Privilege Maduro’s lawyer Barry Pollack announced he will challenge the legality of what he termed a “military abduction” and invoke head‑of‑state privilege as part of the defense strategy [2]. Pollack also raised concerns about Maduro’s health, while Flores’s attorney Mark Donnelly noted she sustained injuries, possibly fractured ribs, during the arrest [2]. Neither defendant filed a bail application at the initial appearance, but they reserve that right for future proceedings [2].

Future Court Schedule and Potential Legal Milestones Judge Hellerstein set the next federal hearing for March 17, 2026, giving both defense teams time to prepare pre‑trial challenges and responses to the indictment [2]. No bail has been granted, and the defendants remain in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center under heavy federal security [2]. The case’s outcome could have significant diplomatic repercussions, given the UN’s involvement and the broader geopolitical tensions surrounding the operation [1].