Venezuela’s Maduro expected in US court today over drug charges

Venezuela’s deposed president Nicolás Maduro is expected to appear in a US federal court today as prosecutors press long-standing drug trafficking and terrorism-related charges against him.

Maduro is scheduled to appear at noon before US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein at the federal courthouse in Manhattan, following his capture by US forces during a surprise military operation in Caracas early Saturday.

He is facing charges that include narco-terrorism conspiracy and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States.

US authorities say Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, who was also seized during the operation, is facing similar federal charges, including conspiracy to import cocaine. The Justice Department alleges that Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials used their positions in government to facilitate large-scale cocaine shipments into the US over more than two decades.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a social media post on Saturday that Maduro and Flores “will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.” She later released a superseding indictment, expanding on charges first brought against Maduro in 2020 during Donald Trump’s first term in office, accusations the Venezuelan leader has consistently denied.

The court appearance comes as political tensions remain high in Venezuela following Maduro’s removal from power.

His former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, is set to be sworn in as president in Caracas this morning, backed by the country’s Supreme Court and the military.

Rodríguez struck a conciliatory tone at her first cabinet meeting on Sunday, signalling openness to engagement with Washington.

“We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of co-operation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law,” she said.

Despite that message, Trump issued a sharp warning in an interview with The Atlantic, saying Rodríguez could “pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro” if she failed to “do what’s right.” He added that for Venezuela, “regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can’t get any worse.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to downplay fears of wider conflict, insisting the United States is not at war with Venezuela, even as some Democratic lawmakers described Saturday’s operation and air strikes in Caracas as an “act of war.”

Trump has said the US would “run” Venezuela until “a safe and proper and judicious transition” could take place, adding that American oil companies would move in to repair infrastructure and “start making money for the country.”

Meanwhile, Maduro’s allies remain influential inside Venezuela. Cuba, a close socialist ally, said 32 “brave Cuban combatants” were killed during the US operation and announced two days of national mourning.