Maduro's son expresses confidence in American judiciary

A convoy, reportedly transporting ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York City, following his federal court appearance on March 26, 2026.

n

On March 26, lawyers for Nicolas Maduro are anticipated to advocate for the dismissal of his drug trafficking charges during his appearance in a New York court.

n

The Manhattan hearing coincides with a cautious improvement in relations between Washington and Caracas, with the issue of who will cover the legal fees of the former autocrat and his wife likely to be a key point of discussion.

n

Nicolas Maduro's son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, also known as "Nicolasito" or "Little Nicolas", expressed trust in the US legal system, but claimed the case against his father was compromised by the circumstances of his parents' capture.

n

"We trust in the legal system of the United States," Nicolas Maduro Guerra stated in Caracas, while also asserting that the trial had "vestiges of illegitimacy from the start, because of the capture, the kidnapping, of an elected president in a military operation".

n

Maduro Guerra argued that his father held "worldwide immunity" under international law as he joined hundreds of supporters in a Caracas square, where a giant screen broadcast live coverage of the court proceedings.

n

The crowd chanted "Freedom for Cilia and Nicolas!" in support of the detained couple, who have been held in a Brooklyn jail for nearly three months since their capture by American commandos in a nighttime raid in January.

n

The operation, which took place at the pair's compound in Caracas, deposed Nicolas Maduro, who had led Venezuela since 2013, and has since led to the oil-rich country largely conforming to US President Donald Trump's policies.

n

Nicolas Maduro has declared himself a "prisoner of war" and pleaded not guilty to the four counts against him: "narco-terrorism" conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

n

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that "other cases are going to be brought" against Nicolas Maduro, without providing further details.