‘I was captured’: Maduro pleads not guilty as he appears in US court

By Agencies 5 January 2026, 7:33 pm

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Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrives at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, as he heads towards the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse for an initial appearance to face US federal charges in New York City, January 5, 2026 (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)

Venezuela’s ousted leader Nicolas Maduro appears in a New York court and pleads not guilty to narco-trafficking and weapons charges, as he slams the US military operation that resulted in his capture.

“I am innocent, I am not guilty,” the 63-year-old tells the court, saying, “I was captured,” regarding his seizure by US forces from his home in Caracas, and adding that he still considers himself the president of Venezuela.

Maduro, wearing a blue jail uniform, and his wife are led into court for a brief, but required, legal proceeding that will likely kick off a prolonged legal fight over whether he can be put on trial in the US. Both put on headsets to hear the English-language proceedings as they are translated into Spanish.