Maduro And Wife Flores Plead Not Guilty In Manhattan Federal Court
NEW YORK, USA—Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges during their initial appearance in a United States federal court, Monday, 05 January 2026.
The hearing commenced at noon before US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Manhattan.
Maduro appeared in court wearing a blue jail uniform with his ankles shackled. Through a Spanish interpreter, he stated: "I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country."
Both Maduro and Flores entered pleas of not guilty to all counts listed in the superseding indictment unsealed on 3 January 2026.
The defendants did not seek bail and remain in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
The judge set the next court appearance for 17 March 2026.
The indictment brought by the Southern District of New York (SDNY) alleges that Maduro led the "Cartel of the Suns," a state-sanctioned drug-trafficking organisation. The four primary criminal counts are:
Narco-terrorism conspiracy: Alleging a partnership with the FARC to use cocaine as a weapon against the US.
Cocaine importation conspiracy: Facilitating the transit of hundreds of tonnes of cocaine.
Possession of machine guns and destructive devices: In furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes.
Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Defence lawyer Barry Pollack informed the court he intends to challenge the legality of the "military abduction" that brought his clients to the US. The defence is expected to raise arguments regarding sovereign immunity, asserting Maduro's status as a head of state.
Meanwhile, US authorities maintain that because the US government does not recognise Maduro’s administration as legitimate, he is not entitled to immunity. Prosecutors allege Maduro has used public office to facilitate drug transit for over two decades, including the sale of diplomatic passports to launderers.
