New Delhi, Jan 5: Seized Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have arrived at a federal court building in Manhattan, where the full list of charges against them is expected to be read out later.
BBC reported that dramatic scenes showed Maduro in handcuffs, escorted by armed officers alongside his wife, as the couple were transferred to the New York courthouse.
They are facing multiple federal charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offences.
The couple is due to appear before 92-year-old Judge Alvin Hellerstein for their first court appearance since their seizure over the weekend, reports the BBC. The arraignment, typically a brief proceeding, is expected to include the formal reading of charges and the entry of pleas. As with previous high-profile cases, a large crowd of journalists and members of the public queued outside the courthouse hours ahead of the hearing. Reacting to the developments, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he wanted to see a “peaceful transition to democracy” in Venezuela. Calling the situation “really important,” Starmer said international law must be the “anchor” for Venezuela’s future, while noting that it was for the US to explain the legal justification for its actions. He stressed that stability and a peaceful democratic transition remained the priority.