US prosecutors have filed serious charges against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife and son, in a case involving international drug trafficking and weapons. They are scheduled to appear before the federal court in New York after being detained pending trial.
On 4 January 2025, Al Jazeera reported that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, his wife, son, and three close associates have been charged by US prosecutors with multiple serious crimes. Maduro faces four counts, including narco-terrorism conspiracy.
These include conspiracy to import cocaine into the US, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons.
The report states that these charges are the same as those filed by the Manhattan federal court against Maduro in 2020 during President Donald Trump's first term. However, the newly revealed indictment, made public last Saturday, adds Maduro's wife to the case. Prosecutors had submitted a sealed indictment to the Southern District of New York federal court before Christmas.
Sources say Maduro is expected to be held at the Brooklyn Federal Detention Center while awaiting trial, with his first court appearance scheduled for Monday. A video posted on the White House's social media account Saturday night showed Maduro smiling while being taken into custody by US Drug Enforcement Administration agents at an office in New York City.
Yesterday, several dozen protesters gathered outside the Brooklyn detention center in New York where Maduro is held. The demonstrators chanted anti-war slogans and held signs opposing US military actions against Venezuela.
The protesters voiced dissatisfaction with the US government's hardline stance, stating that the US president has no right to unilaterally conduct military operations against another country or detain its leader. They consider the actions illegal and oppose the outbreak of another war.
This protest occurred amid rising tensions between the US and Venezuela following the US's crackdown and arrest of Maduro, along with multiple criminal charges. The moves have drawn strong criticism from anti-war groups and human rights activists within the US.
Source: Aljazeera / AP