Venezuela’s ousted leader, Nicolas Maduro, pleaded not guilty on January 5, 2026, in a New York court to charges of narco-trafficking and weapons possession. Maduro, 63, proclaimed his innocence during the arraignment, asserting that he still considers himself the president of Venezuela despite being captured during a U.S. military operation.
He described how he was seized from his home in Caracas and criticized the U.S. actions that led to his capture, which involved commandos, airstrikes, and naval forces. His wife was also taken during this operation.
The case is a significant development in the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Maduro’s administration, which has faced accusations of drug trafficking and corruption.
