Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is expected to appear before the federal court in Manhattan to face drug terrorism charges at noon on January 5 (local time).
Mr. Maduro (63 years old) and his wife, Ms. Cilia Flores, are currently detained in Brooklyn (New York). Both are scheduled to appear in court before Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of the South New York District Court. Information about whether they have lawyers or not, as well as the possibility of conviction, has not been clarified.
The US considers Mr. Maduro an illegal leader since he declared victory in the 2018 election, accused of serious violations.
Prosecutors accuse Mr. Maduro of heading a network of Venezuelan political and military officials, colluding with drug trafficking organizations and groups listed as terrorists by the US, in order to bring thousands of tons of cocaine into the US.
Mr. Maduro was first prosecuted in 2020 in a lengthy drug case involving Venezuelan officials and Colombian guerrillas.
The newly released indictment states that Mr. Maduro directly runs a state-sponsored cocaine trafficking network, cooperating with notorious drug trafficking organizations such as the Sinaloa and Zetas gangs of Mexico, the FARC paramilitary forces of Colombia and the Tren de Aragua gang of Venezuela. Prosecutors affirmed that corruption associated with cocaine is tolerated to serve personal interests, Mr. Maduro's family and the ruling class.
Mr. Maduro is prosecuted for drug terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession and conspiracy to possess heavy weapons. If convicted, he could face sentences ranging from decades to life imprisonment for each crime.
According to the indictment, the alleged acts lasted from the time Mr. Maduro was elected to the National Assembly in 2000, the period of being Minister of Foreign Affairs to succeeding former President Hugo Chavez. Legal experts believe that the prosecution will have to prove Mr. Maduro's direct involvement.
The arrest took place after Donald Trump's prolonged pressure campaign, including military measures targeting Venezuela's oil and drug transportation activities.
The legality of the raid is questioned by many international law experts. The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet to discuss the matter, while Russia and China, which support Venezuela, have criticized the US.
