Maduro in US Court: Claims Illegal Detention, Denies Drug Charges, Calls Himself Venezuela's President

• Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appeared in a US federal court in Manhattan, denying all drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.
• Maduro claimed he was "illegally detained" and "forcibly brought" from Venezuela, asserting he is still the country's legitimate president.
• The US government accuses Maduro, 63, of leading an international drug cartel and conspiring to smuggle large quantities of cocaine.
• Maduro was reportedly taken into custody in Caracas by a US military special operation and transferred to New York.
• Tensions erupted in Caracas with reports of gunshots and power outages, while Maduro's lawyers plan to argue presidential immunity.

Why It Matters: Maduro denies US drug charges, claims illegal detention, sparking political turmoil in Venezuela.