Nicolás Maduro Claims “Prisoner of War” Status in U.S. Court Appearance
In a historic legal proceeding, former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro appeared before a United
States federal court on Monday, where he declared himself a prisoner of war and maintained his
innocence against a litany of narco-terrorism charges.
Appearing in person under heavy security, Maduro addressed the court directly, rejecting the authority
of the American legal system over his person. “I am innocent, I am a decent man, I am President,”
Maduro stated through a court-appointed interpreter.
He argued that his detention was a violation of international law and his purported sovereign immunity.
The United States Department of Justice has charged Maduro and several of his high-ranking associates
with participating in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.
The indictment alleges that Maduro led the Cartel of the Suns, an organization composed of high-
ranking Venezuelan officials who allegedly conspired with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia) to flood the United States with cocaine over a twenty-year period.
Federal prosecutors argued that Maduro used his position of power to provide protection for drug
shipments and to use the Venezuelan state apparatus as a shield for criminal activity.
During the hearing, the prosecution emphasized that they possess significant evidence, including
financial records and witness testimony, linking the former leader to international drug trafficking
networks.
Maduro’s defense team echoed his claims, asserting that the court lacked jurisdiction. By identifying as a
prisoner of war, Maduro is attempting to invoke protections under the Geneva Convention, arguing that
his removal from power and subsequent transport to the U.S. was the result of an illegal military and
political intervention.
Legal analysts note that this defense is rarely successful in U.S. criminal courts, particularly when the
defendant is facing non-military criminal charges.
The presiding judge reminded the defense that the court operates under U.S. federal law and that the
defendant’s status as a former head of state does not grant automatic immunity from criminal
prosecution for alleged acts of drug trafficking.
The courtroom appearance took place amidst unprecedented security measures in Lower Manhattan.
Streets surrounding the federal courthouse were cordoned off by U.S. Marshals, the NYPD, and federal
agents.
The presence of a former head of state in a U.S. criminal dock has heightened diplomatic tensions, with
Maduro’s allies in Moscow and Havana previously condemning the trial as a kidnapping.
Inside the courtroom, Maduro appeared defiant but composed. He sat alongside his legal counsel,
occasionally taking notes as the prosecution outlined the scope of the evidence.
The hearing marks the beginning of what is expected to be a protracted and complex legal battle, with
thousands of pages of classified evidence yet to be reviewed by the defense.
The judge has scheduled a follow-up hearing for next month to discuss discovery motions and the
handling of classified information. Maduro will remain in federal custody without bail, with the court
citing him as a significant flight risk.
The case, United States v. Nicolás Maduro Moros, is being closely watched by international observers as
a test of the long arm of U.S. law enforcement. Outside the courthouse, a small group of protesters
gathered, reflecting the deep polarization the Venezuelan leader’s name still evokes globally.
Oyinkansola Shittu.
