Nicolás Maduro, identified as Venezuela's President, and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York, following their capture by the U.S. military. Their detention is linked to federal criminal charges, including alleged drug trafficking and weapons offenses. The couple pleaded not guilty to these charges during their initial court appearance on Monday and did not contest their current detention.
Detention and Charges
Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York. Their detention stems from federal criminal charges related to alleged drug trafficking and weapons offenses, following their capture by the U.S. military. During their initial court appearance on Monday, the couple pleaded not guilty to these charges and chose not to contest their detention at that time.
Court Proceedings
During the court appearance, Maduro and Flores were informed of their right as Venezuelan citizens to consult with consular officials from their state. The prosecutor stated an intention to investigate the logistical arrangements for such a consultation.
Metropolitan Detention Center Overview
MDC Brooklyn is a federal jail established in the early 1990s within the Sunset Park neighborhood. It functions as a pre-trial detention facility and currently houses approximately 1,300 individuals. The center has held several high-profile individuals awaiting trial or sentencing, including JoaquĂn "El Chapo" Guzmán, Michael Cohen, Martin Shkreli, R. Kelly, Sam Bankman-Fried, Ghislaine Maxwell, Juan Orlando Hernández, Luigi Mangione, and Sean "Diddy" Combs. Prior to their detention, Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores resided at Miraflores Palace, the presidential residence in Venezuela.
Documented Conditions and Incidents
MDC has been cited for operational challenges, including documented issues such as overcrowding, violence, medical neglect, staffing shortages, and power outages. Federal judges have reportedly considered the facility's conditions when issuing sentences or ordering defendants to MDC.
Specific incidents and reported conditions include:
- Two inmate deaths from stabbing attacks occurred in the summer of 2024, leading to charges against nine individuals. Federal prosecutors confirmed that two inmates died in 2024 due to violence from other inmates using makeshift weapons.
- Reports indicate at least four inmate deaths by suicide in the three years preceding 2024.
- In January 2019, an electrical fire caused a week-long power outage, leaving inmates without heat during a period of low temperatures. A Justice Department investigation determined that management failed to effectively address medical issues and communication during this event. A class-action lawsuit related to this incident was settled for approximately $10 million in 2023.
- MDC also housed the first federal inmate to test positive for COVID-19 in March 2020.
- Federal prison consultant Sam Mangel described the conditions, noting limited HVAC and heating, single wool blankets for inmates, and thin mattresses on metal slabs. Attorneys and former prison officials have also reported challenging conditions at the facility.
High-Profile Detainee Protocols
Experts, including federal prison consultant Sam Mangel and former Bureau of Prisons Director Hugh Hurwitz, suggest that high-profile detainees such as Maduro and Flores are likely housed in segregated areas for security reasons, separate from the general population. This segregation aims to mitigate security risks within the facility.
According to the Bureau of Prisons handbook, inmates segregated from the general population typically follow a routine that includes:
- A 6 a.m. wake-up call
- Daily opportunities to meet with attorneys
- Five hours of outdoor exercise per week
- Daily visits from health personnel
A Justice Department report indicates that detainees housed in a Special Housing Unit (SHU), where high-profile individuals might be placed, can spend up to 23 hours locked down in their cells daily, with strict escort protocols during movement and limited access to legal phone calls. Hurwitz suggested that Maduro and Flores would likely have no regular contact with each other unless their attorney meetings coincide. Security protocols in place at detention centers for high-profile individuals are often informed by past incidents, such as the 2019 death of Jeffrey Epstein at another pretrial detention facility in Manhattan, with officials typically aiming to prevent similar occurrences through stringent security and separation measures.
Official Responses and Facility Status
The federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has stated it is addressing operational challenges at MDC, including increasing medical staff and responding to maintenance requests. In a September 2025 fact sheet, the BOP reported a "substantial decrease in violence, limits on the inmates' scheduled time out of their cells, and attempted introductions of contraband." The BOP attributed this progress to increased staffing, a reduced inmate population, expanded telehealth services, and facility repairs, concluding that "MDC Brooklyn is safe for the inmates and staff." The federal Bureau of Prisons does not typically comment on individual inmates.
Context of Federal Detention Facilities in New York City
New York City previously had two federal jails. The Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan was closed in August 2021 due due to security and infrastructure concerns highlighted after Jeffrey Epstein's death. MCC's inmate population was relocated, and its future status remains undetermined, pending funding requirements for necessary repairs.