NEW YORK — Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appeared in a U.S. federal court on Wednesday for a pretrial hearing in a drug trafficking case, as his lawyers continued efforts to challenge the charges and the circumstances surrounding his transfer to the United States.
Maduro, 63, has pleaded not guilty to U.S. charges alleging that he participated in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine into the United States. U.S. prosecutors accuse him of working with Venezuelan officials and criminal groups to facilitate narcotics trafficking, allegations Maduro has denied.
The hearing in Manhattan federal court focused on preliminary legal issues as both sides prepare for a potential trial. A joint court filing by Maduro’s defense team and the U.S. Justice Department proposed a possible trial start in June 2027, though the final schedule remains subject to approval by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein.
Maduro’s lawyers have said they intend to challenge the legality of the U.S. operation that brought him to the country, arguing that his capture violated legal protections related to his former position as Venezuela’s leader. Maduro has described himself as a political prisoner and has rejected the U.S. allegations.
The U.S. government has defended the operation, describing it as a law enforcement action connected to a criminal case. Prosecutors have maintained that the charges are based on alleged criminal conduct rather than political disputes.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who also faces charges in the case, have remained in U.S. custody since being brought to New York earlier this year. Flores has also pleaded not guilty. Neither defendant has requested bail, according to court records.
The case stems from an indictment originally filed by U.S. prosecutors alleging that Maduro and other Venezuelan officials participated in a long-running effort to move large quantities of cocaine into the United States. The defendants have disputed the accusations and their legal basis.
The proceedings have drawn international attention because of Maduro’s former role as Venezuela’s president and the broader tensions between Washington and Caracas. The court has not yet set a final trial date, and the case remains in the pretrial stage.
