Venezuela’s ousted president Nicolás Maduro was brought before a federal court in New York on Monday to face criminal charges, according to international media reports.
Maduro was arrested along with his wife, Cilia Flores, during a late-night operation at the presidential palace in Caracas, reportedly carried out on the orders of US President Donald Trump.
The couple was taken into custody while asleep and later transferred to the United States by American special forces.
US media said Maduro and his wife were flown from Venezuela to New York with their eyes covered, where legal proceedings against him are set to begin. Maduro is expected to face charges related to drug trafficking and other serious offenses.
On Monday, he was transported to a federal court in Manhattan for his initial appearance.
Reports said he arrived at the downtown Manhattan heliport before being taken to the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse.
Videos circulating on social media showed Maduro in handcuffs, walking with difficulty, while his wife was seen accompanying him. The footage quickly went viral, drawing widespread attention and criticism.
The development comes despite a recent shift in tone from Venezuela’s interim leadership. Just a day earlier, interim leader Delcy Rodríguez had offered cooperation with the U.S. government, a move Washington described as a diplomatic success. However, critics say the treatment of the detained former president appears to contradict that stance.
