Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a New York court on Thursday. This marks his second court appearance since his capture by US forces in January.
Maduro is facing multiple criminal charges, including drug trafficking and narcoterrorism – a statute rarely tested in court with limited success. He and his wife were captured in a surprise raid in Caracas over two months ago.
The former president seeks to have his drug trafficking indictment dismissed, citing a geopolitical dispute over legal fees. Maduro maintains his innocence, claiming the charges are part of an imperialist plot and denies accusations of plotting to traffic cocaine.
His lawyers are challenging legal and procedural obstacles, particularly amid existing US sanctions.