Nicolas Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan strongman accused by US prosecutors of narcoterrorism, is scheduled to stand trial in New York on June 1, 2027, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein set the date during Maduro’s third court appearance since US Special Forces seized the 63-year-old former leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, 69, in a stunning late-night January raid on their heavily guarded compound in Caracas.
Federal prosecutors allege Maduro and Flores spent more than two decades collaborating with drug trafficking organizations to move thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States, spanning a period from 1999 through 2025.
Maduro, who appeared in court Wednesday wearing jail-issued clothing, glasses and looking noticeably thinner, faces a narcoterrorism charge tied to allegations that he worked with designated “terror” groups. Both he and Flores also face separate charges involving possession of machine guns.
Since their capture, the former Venezuelan leader and his wife have remained in custody without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
