The ousted president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, is scheduled to appear in a New York court on Wednesday for the third public hearing in a drug trafficking case. His appearance follows his capture by US military forces during a night raid in January.
In a court statement filed late Tuesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys proposed scheduling the trial for June 2027. Judge Alvin Hellerstein may confirm this date during a procedural hearing on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a rally in support of Maduro and his wife was held near the courthouse. In April, the USA permitted Venezuela to cover the legal defense costs for Maduro and Flores, which had previously been prohibited by US sanctions.
Charges and detention
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are being held in a Brooklyn prison as they await trial on charges of drug trafficking, illegal firearms trafficking, and other crimes. Both have pleaded not guilty and face potential life imprisonment if convicted of conspiring to transport cocaine to the United States.
“I am not guilty. I am an honest man, the constitutional president of my country,” Maduro declared during his arraignment in January. The administration of former US President Donald Trump described the raid as a “surgical law enforcement operation” related to a criminal case initiated six years ago. Maduro has referred to himself as a “prisoner of war” and characterized his capture as a kidnapping.
Defense position
Prosecutors allege that Maduro conspired to transport thousands of tons of cocaine to the United States, collaborating with Venezuelan law enforcement to aid drug traffickers. Maduro’s attorney, Barry Pollack, stated that he plans to challenge the legality of his client’s “military kidnapping.”
The defense also noted that several complex legal issues must be resolved before the trial begins. Maduro and Flores have not requested bail.
Source: Euronews
