A courtroom sketch of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores was released on Monday after their first appearance before a US court in New York. The drawing captured the couple standing in front of a Manhattan judge as they formally faced serious criminal charges.
Both Maduro and Flores were seen wearing blue and orange jail-issued shirts with khaki pants. Flores had two bandages on her face, while both wore headphones to hear a Spanish translation of the court proceedings, which were conducted in English. Their lawyer sat between them during the hearing.
Maduro was seen writing notes on a yellow legal pad. At one point, he even asked the judge whether he could take the notepad with him after the session ended.
🚨🚨🚨🚨JUST IN: 🗞️ Newly released sketch of Nicolas Maduro and his wife in federal court in NYC. Interesting hand signal ?!? What are your thoughts ???? pic.twitter.com/WgWjekfaZF
— MAGA-MAFIA-MEDIA (@MAGA_MAFIA_) January 6, 2026
“I’m innocent,” Maduro tells US judge
During the 40-minute arraignment, the couple strongly denied all charges. Speaking to 92-year-old Judge Alvin Hellerstein, Maduro declared, “I’m innocent. I’m a decent man.” His wife Flores also said she was “completely innocent.”
Both pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges and claimed that they had been “kidnapped” by US forces from their home in Caracas. Maduro went further and described himself as a “prisoner of war.”
Repeating his stand, he told the court, “I’m innocent. I am not guilty of anything,” as per report.
Serious drug and weapons charges against Maduro
US prosecutors have accused Maduro of running a large international drug and weapons operation. The charges against him include:
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Narco-terrorism conspiracy
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Cocaine importation conspiracy
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Possession of machine guns and destructive devices
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Conspiracy to use these weapons against the United States
Authorities allege that Maduro worked with criminal networks to move huge quantities of cocaine and used armed groups to protect these operations.
Flores accused of taking bribes to help drug traffickers
Cilia Flores is also facing major allegations. Prosecutors say she accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes as part of a corruption scheme linked to drug trafficking.
Court documents claim that in 2007, Flores helped arrange a meeting between a “large-scale drug trafficker” and the head of Venezuela’s National Anti-Drug Office in exchange for large payments.
US military operation in Venezuela
The court appearance came just days after the United States carried out a major military operation in Venezuela, targeting key locations. However, neither Maduro nor Flores requested bail during their hearing. Both will remain in federal custody, and their next court date is March 17.
Maduro brought to court under heavy security
A video released on Monday showed Maduro arriving in Manhattan under tight US security. The 63-year-old was flown by helicopter to a helipad near the federal courthouse and then moved in an armoured vehicle.
He was wearing a tan prison jumpsuit and bright orange shoes and appeared to be limping slightly as agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) escorted him inside.
Tight security around Manhattan courthouse
Security was extremely high around the Lower Manhattan federal courthouse. Police placed barricades across several blocks near the main entrance on Worth Street. Pearl Street, where prisoners are usually brought in, was closed to the public.
The heavy security highlighted the seriousness of the case, as a former foreign leader and his wife now face trial in the United States on some of the most severe criminal charges.
