Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in their first appearances before a federal magistrate judge in New York City, two days after U.S. forces captured them in Caracas. Both face counts that include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offenses.
In court, Maduro declared, “I am not guilty, I am a decent man, I am still the president of my country.” Flores, standing beside defense counsel, described herself as the first lady of Venezuela.
The judge advised both defendants of their rights, noted the charges on the superseding indictment, and set the stage for a detention hearing.
What unfolded inside the courtroom
At the brief hearing, the magistrate addressed identity, counsel, and next steps. Prosecutors said they would seek continued detention, citing flight risk, the international scope of the case, and the severity of the alleged conduct.
Defense attorneys reserved arguments for a forthcoming bail proceeding and requested time to review early discovery. The court outlined a schedule that will bring the case to arraignment on the superseding indictment, where formal pleas will be entered again and deadlines for motions will be set.
Standard procedures followed the appearances, including medical screening and classification at the detention facility. U.S. Marshals coordinated security for transport to and from the courthouse, and consular notifications were initiated.
Given the profile of the defendants, officials prepared special housing and movement protocols while the case transitions from initial appearance to pretrial litigation.
The charges and what prosecutors allege
The superseding filing accuses Maduro and alleged co-conspirators of using state power to facilitate cocaine trafficking, while coordinating with armed groups and corrupt security officials. Counts include possession of and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices, alongside terrorism-related allegations tied to narcotics activity.
Prosecutors say a criminal enterprise operated over years through aviation and maritime routes, with bribe schemes that shielded flights and shipments passing through Caribbean corridors toward the United States.
Flores is charged with brokering access to regulators and receiving payments related to traffickers’ dealings with Venezuelan authorities.
The new filing builds on allegations first outlined in U.S. court papers in 2020 that targeted senior Venezuelan officials. Defense teams have previously rejected those assertions as politically motivated and signaled they will challenge jurisdiction, evidentiary foundations, and the credibility of cooperating witnesses.
U.S. posture and statements from Washington
Outside the courthouse, the broader policy context loomed. President Donald Trump said the United States is “in charge” of Venezuela during a transition and warned the interim leadership to cooperate or face a “very big price.”
Administration officials have emphasized a maritime “oil quarantine,” describing it as a tool that permits the seizure of sanctioned cargoes with court orders and restricts revenue streams tied to the former regime.
The White House has presented those measures as leverage while the criminal case proceeds in New York.
Trump has also spoken about tapping Venezuela’s significant oil reserves, linking energy policy to stabilization plans. His public comments have included sharp warnings directed at regional governments and predictions about political change elsewhere. Officials say operational details will be handled through interagency channels, with further briefings to Congress on timelines, authorities, and objectives.
Responses from Caracas and claims of interim authority
In Caracas, Delcy Rodríguez, who served as vice president under Maduro, invited the U.S. government to collaborate while asserting, “Venezuela has the right to peace, development, sovereignty, and a future.”
Loyalist figures have described Rodríguez as an acting leader, a claim that highlights unresolved questions of authority inside Venezuela following the capture of a sitting president. Practical control over ministries, security services, and energy infrastructure remains central to whether interim assertions translate into day-to-day governance.
The competing narratives continue. Washington has outlined a temporary role in managing the transition. Caracas voices have framed that stance as a challenge to sovereignty.
On the ground, communications disruptions and shifting statements from regional officials have made verification difficult, even as international observers look for signs of administrative continuity and public-service stability.
