Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Pleads Not Guilty After Stunning US Capture

NEW YORK (Web Desk) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of narco-terrorism and other crimes following his dramatic capture by US forces in Caracas, an event that shocked world leaders and left Venezuelan officials scrambling to respond.

Maduro, 63, appeared in a New York federal court to face four criminal counts, including narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. His wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty. The next court date is set for March 17.

“I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country,” Maduro said through an interpreter before being cut off by the judge.

The US alleges Maduro oversaw a cocaine trafficking network collaborating with violent groups such as Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombian FARC rebels, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Maduro has consistently denied these accusations, calling them a cover for imperialist designs on Venezuela’s oil reserves.

The seizure of Maduro by US Special Forces—who entered Caracas by helicopter, breached his security, and captured him—prompted emergency orders in Venezuela to arrest anyone supporting the US attack. The UN Security Council debated the incident, with condemnation from Russia, China, and Venezuela’s leftist allies, and concerns raised by UN Chief Antonio Guterres about regional stability and legality.

In Caracas, Maduro’s government remains in control despite the capture, with senior officials shifting from defiance to signaling potential cooperation with Washington. US oil companies’ shares rose amid speculation about renewed access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, the largest in the world but severely underproduced due to mismanagement and sanctions.

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Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez softened her initial condemnation of the capture, calling for respectful relations and cooperation with the US. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump promised further actions if Venezuela does not open its oil industry and halt drug trafficking.

The raid has sparked global political controversy. While US Democrats criticize the operation as misleading, most Trump supporters praise it as a decisive victory. Venezuelan opposition celebrations remain cautious, as Maduro’s allies retain power and no military defections have emerged.

The situation remains fluid, with uncertainty over how the US will engage with any future Venezuelan government, especially given ideological divisions and the sidelining of opposition groups.