Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to multiple US criminal charges, days after American forces captured him in an unprecedented operation that stunned world leaders. Appearing in New York federal court, the 63-year-old said he had been “kidnapped” from Venezuela and insisted on his innocence.
Prosecutors charged Maduro with four counts, including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. They accused him of overseeing a vast cocaine-trafficking network linked to Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombia’s FARC rebels, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Maduro has long rejected the allegations, arguing they mask US ambitions over Venezuela’s oil wealth.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan authorities issued an emergency order directing police to detain anyone who supported Saturday’s US operation. At the same time, the UN Security Council convened an urgent debate, with Russia, China and several left-leaning governments condemning the raid. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised concerns over regional instability and questioned the legality of the strike.
Oil ambitions and political uncertainty
Under heavy guard, Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were transferred from a Brooklyn detention centre to court on Monday morning. US prosecutors said Maduro’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking dated back to his early political career and continued through his presidency. An updated indictment also named Flores as a co-defendant.
In Caracas, senior officials initially denounced the operation before signalling possible cooperation with Washington. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez called for dialogue and respectful relations, even as President Donald Trump reiterated his interest in Venezuela’s oil sector.
US oil stocks rose on expectations of renewed access to Venezuela’s vast reserves. However, legal experts warned the raid could undermine international norms. With opposition groups sidelined and threats of further strikes looming, the path forward for Venezuela remains uncertain.
