Cilia Flores, the 69-year-old wife of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, is currently detained in New York after being transported to the United States following an operation by US forces on Saturday. Ms. Flores and Mr. Maduro were apprehended at his presidential compound and subsequently flown to US soil. Both have been jointly indicted on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offenses. During a court appearance, Ms. Flores entered a plea of "Not guilty" to all three counts.
Detention and Charges
Cilia Flores, 69, wife of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, is held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in New York, specifically noted to be in its remand wing. United States authorities have jointly indicted Ms. Flores and Mr. Maduro. The charges against them include:
- Narco-terrorism conspiracy
- Cocaine importation conspiracy
- Weapons offenses
The prosecution alleges that the couple was involved in activities to operate Venezuela as a "narco-state" and facilitate a scheme to transport cocaine from Venezuela into the United States.
Apprehension and Transport
On Saturday, Ms. Flores and Mr. Maduro were apprehended by US forces at his presidential compound. They were subsequently transported from Caracas by helicopter, arriving on US soil the same day.
Court Proceedings and Plea
Ms. Flores and Mr. Maduro appeared in a New York court. During the proceedings, Ms. Flores entered a plea of "Not guilty" to all three charges.
Public and Analytical Commentary
Christopher Sabatini, a senior fellow at Chatham House’s Latin America program, provided commentary regarding Ms. Flores. Sabatini noted that critics describe Ms. Flores as associated with a government they characterize as corrupt and involved in human rights abuses. He further observed that her influence within the government was not always overtly apparent, contributing to varying public assessments of her actual power.