Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appears in New York court after US military capture

Maduro, 63, was escorted by heavily armed law enforcement officers to the courthouse after being transported by helicopter and armoured vehicle.

His wife, Cilia Flores, 69, was also detained during the operation.

According to US authorities, the couple was seized on Saturday in a coordinated assault involving helicopters, fighter jets and naval forces.

They were first taken to a U.S. Navy vessel, flown to the United States, and later lodged at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Maduro and Flores face multiple narcotrafficking-related charges, including allegations of working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of large quantities of cocaine into the United States.

A 25-page indictment unsealed on Saturday accuses them of ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders linked to the drug trade. If convicted, they could face life imprisonment.

Maduro’s legal team is expected to challenge the legality of his arrest, arguing that he enjoys immunity as a former head of state.

However, Washington does not recognise Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader following his disputed 2024 re-election.

US President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that the United States was now “in charge” of Venezuela, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said discussions about elections in the country were “premature.”

Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has demanded Maduro’s return but later signalled openness to dialogue with Washington, calling for “respectful relations” with the United States.

Maduro has long denied involvement in drug trafficking and previously accused the US of targeting him to gain control over Venezuela’s vast oil and mineral resources.