Arraignment Confirms Not‑Guilty Pleas and Broad Federal Charges On January 5, 2026, Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared before U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan, entered not‑guilty pleas to four federal counts—including narco‑terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and illegal possession of machine guns and destructive devices—and were ordered to remain in federal custody pending a March 17 hearing [1][2]. Both defendants wore blue jail uniforms, used headsets to follow the proceedings, and waived a formal reading of the indictment after receiving a summary from their attorneys [2]. The indictment alleges the couple conspired with Mexican cartels, FARC rebels, and the Tren de Aragua gang to ship “thousands of tons” of cocaine into the United States between 1999 and 2025 [2].

U.S. Helicopter‑Assisted Raid Delivered Maduro to New York A U.S.–backed operation in Caracas employed helicopters, warplanes and a heavy naval deployment, involving roughly 200 personnel and resulting in Cuban casualties but no U.S. service‑member deaths, although some were wounded [1]. The raid sparked a United Nations Security Council debate, with Russia, China and Venezuela’s leftist allies condemning the action as a breach of sovereignty [1]. In response, Caracas issued an emergency order directing police to hunt down anyone who aided the U.S. attack [1].

Defense Teams Emphasize Illegality and Head‑of‑State Privilege Maduro’s lawyer Barry Pollack announced plans to challenge the legality of what he termed a “military abduction” and to invoke head‑of‑state privilege, arguing that Maduro remains the legitimate president of Venezuela [2][1]. Pollack also raised concerns about Maduro’s health, while Flores’s attorney highlighted her injuries, including bandaged ribs, sustained during the capture [2]. Neither defendant filed a bail request at the arraignment, and the court ordered prosecutors to coordinate with detention authorities to preserve Maduro’s personal account [2].

Indictment Links Leaders to International Drug Networks and Arms Prosecutors describe a cocaine‑trafficking network overseen by Maduro that partnered with Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, FARC rebels, and the domestic Tren de Aragua gang [1]. The 25‑page indictment claims the conspirators intended to import massive quantities of cocaine and possessed machine guns and destructive devices to protect the operation [2]. U.S. officials portray the scheme as a “narco‑terrorism” enterprise that threatened national security [2].

Political Fallout Extends Beyond the Courtroom The United Nations expressed concern over regional stability, while Russia and China used the Security Council debate to denounce the raid as a violation of international law [1]. Venezuelan authorities framed Maduro’s detention as an illegal kidnapping, with the president calling himself a “kidnapped president” and “prisoner of war” as he left the courtroom [2]. Domestic protests erupted outside the courthouse, reflecting polarized public opinion on the U.S. operation and its implications for Venezuela’s governance [2].