Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appears in New York court; trial set for June 2027

Nicolás Maduro, 63, and wife Cilia Flores have been held in a Brooklyn jail since the U.S. military operation, awaiting trial on drug trafficking, firearms and other charges

Published - July 22, 2026 09:29 pm IST | New York

AFP

Venezuela's ousted president Nicolás Maduro is set to appear before a New York court on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), his third public hearing since the U.S. military captured him in a nighttime raid in January.

The former leader, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been held in a Brooklyn jail since the U.S. military operation, awaiting trial on drug trafficking, firearms and other charges.

American commandos snatched the pair from their compound in Caracas on January 3. The lightning operation combined naval, air and ground forces, deposing the strongman who had led Venezuela since 2013.

In a court filing late Tuesday (July 21), prosecutors and defence lawyers proposed a June 2027 trial date, which Judge Alvin Hellerstein could confirm at the Wednesday hearing focused on procedural matters.

The United States in April allowed Venezuela to pay for Maduro's and Flores's legal defence, something previously barred by U.S. sanctions. The couple had sought to have their cases dismissed because blocking the funding violated the U.S. Constitution's right to counsel of one's choice.

Maduro has declared himself a "prisoner of war" and pleaded not guilty to the four counts he faces:

• "Narco-terrorism" conspiracy
• Cocaine importation conspiracy
• Possession of machine guns and destructive devices
• Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices

Venezuela is now led by Maduro's former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, while the United States effectively controls the country's oil exports, with proceeds going into special accounts overseen by Washington.