At about 8:52 pm on January 3 (local time), Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn.
This is a famous federal detention facility, which has received many defendants and senior inmates in cases that have attracted attention in the US.
A video posted on social media from the White House account X@RapidResponse47 shows Mr. Maduro smiling when he was escorted by 2 federal agents through a US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office in New York before being taken to the MDC, each holding one of his hands tightly.
Despite being handcuffed, Mr. Maduro appeared calm, smiled and said "Hello. Happy New Year" to escorters wearing DEA uniforms.
US officials said that the Venezuelan President is expected to have his first trial at the Manhattan Federal Court on January 5. However, the exact time for this initial appearance has not yet been officially announced.
MDC Brooklyn is a place that has detained many notorious figures, including rapper Sean "Diddy" - who was previously detained here during trials before being sentenced for federal charges of prostitution.
Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the now bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange, was also detained at MDC after being convicted of fraudulent charges.
Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is also currently being detained at the facility.
Mr. Maduro's escort to New York took place immediately after the US Department of Justice released a newly declassified indictment.
Accordingly, Mr. Nicolas Maduro is accused of running a "corrupt and illegal government", existence thanks to a large-scale drug trafficking network, believed to have smuggled thousands of tons of cocaine into US territory.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on social network X that Mr. Maduro and his wife "will soon face the full weight of US justice, on US soil and in US courts".
