Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrives at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport as he is taken towards the Daniel Patrick Manhattan United States Courthouse for an initial appearance to face US federal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy, drug trafficking, money laundering, and others in New York City, US, on January 5, 2026. (Photo: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
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Firstpost06-01-2026, 05:35

Maduro Captured, Pleads Not Guilty in US Court; Trump Claims "In Charge" of Venezuela

  • Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty in a US court to drug trafficking charges after being captured by the US military.
  • Maduro asserted he is still Venezuela's President, claiming he was "kidnapped" from his Caracas home by US forces.
  • US President Donald Trump ordered the operation and declared himself "in charge" of Venezuela, naming key officials involved.
  • Venezuela's parliament swore in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president, who expressed willingness to cooperate with Washington and pain over Maduro's capture.
  • The capture sparked global consternation, with allies stressing dialogue and a political storm in the US over Trump's actions.

Why It Matters: Maduro's US capture and not-guilty plea ignite a political crisis, with Trump asserting control over Venezuela.

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