US judge schedules 2027 trial for Venezuela's Maduro and wife

Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro entered a federal courtroom on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to a series of drug‑trafficking charges filed by U.S. prosecutors. The indictment alleges that Maduro, while serving as president, participated in a scheme that moved cocaine from South America to the United States, generating millions of dollars in illicit proceeds. The case, which is being heard in the Southern District of New York, includes accusations of money‑laundering, conspiracy to distribute narcotics and false statements to financial institutions. Prosecutors said the evidence was gathered during a 2023 U.S. military operation that intercepted a cargo vessel in the Caribbean and seized a cache of cocaine allegedly linked to the Venezuelan government.

Maduro’s defense team, led by attorney Carlos Fernández, announced plans to contest the legality of the military operation that produced the evidence, arguing that the raid violated international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The lawyer intends to file a motion to suppress the seized materials, contending that the U.S. forces acted without proper authorization from the Venezuelan authorities and exceeded the scope of any existing bilateral agreements. The court’s ruling on the motion will determine whether the prosecution can proceed with the case, which could have significant diplomatic repercussions for U.S.–Venezuela relations.