Kidnapped Since Jan 3”: 7 Explosive Claims by Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro in a US Court Hearing
Kidnapped since January 3’: Discover 7 explosive claims made by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro during a dramatic US court hearing that sparked global outrage
Toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday reportedly pleaded not guilty in a New York federal court, days after his dramatic capture under US President Donald Trump. Maduro was produced before US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan, marking his first court appearance since being brought to the United States.
The 63-year-old has been charged with four criminal counts, including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine into the US, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
The hearing opened with the judge reading out the charges against Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The hearing lasted for about half an hour, their next court date has been scheduled for March 17.
During the brief hearing, Maduro denied all charges. Speaking through an interpreter, he told the court: “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country,” according to Reuters, before the judge cut him off.
“I’m here kidnapped since January 3, Saturday,” Maduro told the court. He also directly addressed the circumstances of his arrest, telling the judge: “I was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela,” an AFP news agency report said.
So far, the captured President’s statements signal what is expected to be a key line of defence – that his arrest by US authorities on foreign soil was unlawful.
His lawyer has also described the operation as a “military abduction,” arguing it violated international laws.
Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, appeared alongside him in court and also entered a plea of not guilty. When asked to identify herself, Flores stated her name and told the court, “I am First Lady of Venezuela,” before declaring that she was “completely innocent,” Bloomberg reported.
According to Reuters, Judge Hellerstein had informed the couple of their right to notify the Venezuelan consulate about their arrests.
Earlier on Monday, Maduro and Flores were escorted from a Brooklyn detention facility under heavy security. With his hands zip-tied, Maduro was led by armed guards in tactical gear to a helicopter that flew him to court.
The hearing began at 12:02 pm local time. Dressed in orange and beige prison clothing, Maduro listened to the proceedings through headphones as the judge outlined the charges. When asked to confirm his identity, he replied in Spanish.
US federal prosecutors first indicted Maduro in 2020 as part of a long-running investigation into narcotics trafficking involving current and former Venezuelan officials and Colombian guerrillas. A revised indictment, made public on Saturday, added new details and named additional co-defendants, including Flores.
Washington has considered Maduro an illegitimate ruler since his 2018 re-election, which was marred by allegations of widespread irregularities.
US prosecutors allege Nicolas Maduro oversaw a vast cocaine-trafficking network that worked with Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombia’s FARC rebels, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang.
Maduro has consistently denied these accusations, previously saying they were a pretext for US efforts to control Venezuela’s oil wealth.
The political and diplomatic spotlight turned sharply toward a US courtroom after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made a startling claim during a recent legal hearing, asserting that he has been “kidnapped since January 3.” The remark, delivered in the midst of proceedings linked to international legal disputes involving Venezuela, has triggered intense global debate, diplomatic reactions, and widespread media scrutiny.
Maduro’s statement instantly escalated tensions surrounding the long-running standoff between his government and the United States. According to observers present during the hearing, the Venezuelan leader portrayed himself as a victim of an alleged unlawful detention and political targeting, framing the situation as part of what he described as a broader campaign against Venezuela’s sovereignty.
The phrase “kidnapped since January 3” became the defining moment of the hearing. Maduro reportedly argued that restrictions placed on his movement and legal pressures amounted to a violation of international law. He accused unnamed foreign actors of orchestrating what he characterized as a forced confinement under the guise of legal action.
Legal experts note that such language is highly unusual in a US courtroom, especially when used by a sitting head of state. While Maduro did not provide detailed evidence to support the kidnapping claim, the statement appeared aimed at reinforcing his long-standing narrative that Washington is waging a judicial and economic war against his administration.
Relations between the US and Venezuela have been fraught for over a decade, marked by sanctions, asset freezes, and legal actions targeting senior Venezuelan officials. American authorities have previously accused members of the Maduro government of corruption, drug trafficking, and human rights abuses—charges that Caracas has consistently denied, calling them politically motivated.
During the hearing, Maduro reportedly revisited these accusations, insisting that the cases against Venezuelan officials are part of an effort to delegitimize his leadership. He framed the January 3 date as a turning point, suggesting that actions taken around that time effectively stripped him of freedom and due process.
Maduro’s comments quickly reverberated beyond the courtroom. Supporters of his government amplified the kidnapping claim on social media, describing it as proof of US overreach and interference in Latin American affairs. Critics, however, dismissed the remarks as rhetorical exaggeration designed to rally domestic and international sympathy.
Several international observers have urged caution, emphasizing the need to separate political messaging from legal facts. Diplomats familiar with the case say the language used by Maduro appears aimed at shaping public opinion rather than influencing the court’s legal reasoning.
While it remains unclear how the court will address Maduro’s dramatic assertion, analysts believe the statement could complicate already sensitive negotiations between Washington and Caracas. Any suggestion of unlawful detention or coercion raises serious diplomatic questions, even if framed rhetorically.
For Maduro, the hearing offered a rare opportunity to directly address an international legal forum. By invoking the idea of a kidnapping, he reinforced his broader argument that Venezuela is under siege—not just economically, but legally and politically as well.
Whether viewed as a symbolic protest or a calculated political move, Maduro’s “kidnapped since January 3” claim has ensured that the US court hearing will be remembered as a pivotal moment. As legal proceedings continue, the statement is likely to remain central to discussions about sovereignty, international law, and the limits of judicial power in geopolitical conflicts.
For now, the world is watching closely as the case unfolds—aware that its implications may extend far beyond the walls of the courtroom.
