Ousted Venezuelan president Maduro to face US drug trafficking trial in June 2027
A US federal judge has scheduled the drug trafficking trial for ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife for June 2027. The defense plans to challenge the case based on sovereign immunity and the legality of Maduro's capture in Caracas.
Why it matters
The trial represents a significant legal escalation in US-Venezuela relations and raises complex questions regarding international law and sovereign immunity.
Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will go on trial in the United States on June 1, 2027, over drug trafficking charges after a federal judge approved the schedule on Wednesday.Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, have pleaded not guilty to charges that they conspired to traffic cocaine into the United States.If convicted, they could face life imprisonment. The couple has been held at a jail in Brooklyn since US forces captured them during a military raid in Caracas in early January and brought them to New York.Defence to challenge indictment and legality of captureUS district judge Alvin K Hellerstein set the June 1, 2027 trial date after a request from both the prosecution and defence.
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