Nicolás Maduro back in New York federal court in ‘narco-terrorism’ case

The deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is again scheduled to appear in a Manhattan federal court on Thursday for his “narco-terrorism” case after his capture by US military forces earlier this year.

US special forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on 3 January in a controversial pre-dawn raid during an assault on Caracas that reportedly killed 100 people.

Charging papers allege that Maduro spearheaded a “corrupt, illegitimate government that, for decades, has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activity, including drug trafficking”.

Their capture followed months of US pressure against Maduro, such as assaults on purported “narco boats”. These boat strikes resulted in more than 100 deaths and some legal experts have challenged not only the legality of these attacks, but whether they are equivalent to war crimes.

Maduro and Flores both pleaded not guilty during their 5 January arraignment.

Maduro’s politician son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, tried to put a brave face on his father’s plight this week.

Read more: The Guardian (UK)