Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been transferred to a high-security detention facility in New York following a US military operation in Venezuela, according to American media reports.
He is expected to face serious criminal charges in federal court in the coming days.
US media outlets report that Nicolás Maduro has arrived at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in New York City. The facility is the only federal jail in the city and is known for holding high-profile detainees.
Maduro was earlier flown to a US military base before being transferred to New York, where he was briefly taken to the offices of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Drugs and weapons charges filed
According to reports, Maduro has been indicted on drugs and weapons charges. He has previously denied allegations that he led a drug cartel.
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He is expected to be formally arraigned before a judge in Manhattan federal court, although the exact date has not yet been confirmed. His wife is also expected to be arraigned, but her confinement status remains unclear.
Inside metropolitan detention center
The Metropolitan Detention Center has previously housed inmates such as Ghislaine Maxwell, R Kelly, and most recently Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The jail has a reputation for harsh conditions and has faced allegations of violence and inadequate supervision. Past cases include reports of detainees being denied medical care after serious injuries.
What happens next in court?
Legal experts say Maduro will soon face his first court appearance. Leon Fresco, a former deputy assistant attorney general at the US Department of Justice, said Maduro will likely be arraigned early next week.
“He will have to plead guilty or not guilty, and most people plead not guilty in this situation,” Fresco said. He added that Maduro is unlikely to be granted bail due to the risk of flight.
Fresco noted that Maduro may request a speedy trial, which would require proceedings within 70 days. If waived, the trial could stretch over one to two years.
He also said the case could mirror the prosecution of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, whose jurisdictional challenges were rejected by US courts.
Trump claims ‘unprecedented’ military operation
US President Donald Trump said the arrest followed a major US military operation in Venezuela carried out on his direct orders. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump described the action as a “spectacular assault” involving air, land, and sea forces.
Trump claimed the operation rendered Venezuelan defenses powerless and compared it to past US strikes on Iran. He also shared an image of Maduro on his Truth Social account shortly before the announcement.
Trump said the Venezuela strike was part of a broader show of US military strength, referencing Operation Hammer, which he claimed eliminated Iran’s nuclear capability.
He described Caracas as being plunged into darkness during the operation, attributing it to US technical superiority. The developments have drawn international reaction, with some countries condemning the US action and others urging restraint.
