Nicolas Maduro Trial Set for June 2027
A US federal judge has scheduled the criminal trial of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to begin in New York on June 1, 2027.
Nicolás Maduro Trial Date Confirmed
US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein approved the trial date during a brief hearing in Manhattan after prosecutors and defence lawyers jointly proposed the timetable.
Maduro and Flores attended the hearing but did not address the court. Both have pleaded not guilty and remain in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Neither defendant has applied for release on bail.
Defence lawyers are expected to begin filing pretrial motions in September, with oral arguments scheduled for November 17. The proceedings will address several legal challenges before the case can reach a jury.
Maduro Faces US Drug Charges
Federal prosecutors accuse Maduro and Flores of participating in a conspiracy to transport large quantities of cocaine into the United States. The charges include narcoterrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation and firearms-related offences.
Prosecutors allege that Maduro used his political authority and connections within Venezuelan law enforcement to assist drug trafficking organisations. Maduro and Flores deny all allegations and could face life imprisonment if convicted on the most serious charges.
Defence Challenges Maduro Capture
Maduro’s legal team plans to seek dismissal of the indictment by arguing that he possessed sovereign immunity as Venezuela’s head of state when he was detained.
His lawyers are also expected to challenge the legality of the US military operation that captured the couple at their Caracas residence in January 2026 and transported them to New York.
The Trump administration has characterised the raid as a law-enforcement operation. Maduro has described his detention as a kidnapping, declared himself a prisoner of war and maintained that he remains Venezuela’s constitutional president.
