Maduro faces decades in prison in US case that opens 'Pandora's box' for foreign leaders - analyst

"I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country," Maduro, 63, said through an interpreter, before being cut off by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan federal court.

Maduro's wife Cilia Flores also pleaded not guilty. The next court date was set for March 17.

ACCUSATIONS OF COCAINE-TRAFFICKING

Maduro is accused of overseeing a cocaine-trafficking network that partnered with violent groups including Mexico's Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombian FARC rebels and Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang.

"Those are organizations that are designated by the State Department," said Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers and a former federal prosecutor. "And this is a newer statute after 9/11 that was used primarily to go after Al Qaeda for heroin smuggling, but it's important because it carries a 20-year minimum sentence under federal law."

Maduro faces four criminal counts: narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.

"The use of a machine gun or explosive device in connection with a drug trafficking offense - that is an important law because it carries a 30-year mandatory minimum consecutive sentence - that means it's in addition to any other sentence under federal law," Rahmani said.

Maduro has long denied the allegations, saying they were a mask for imperialist designs on Venezuela's rich oil reserves.

Trump has made no secret of wanting to share in Venezuela's oil riches. Venezuela has the world's largest reserves - about 303 billion barrels - but the sector has long been in decline from mismanagement, under-investment and U.S. sanctions, averaging 1.1 million bpd output last year, a third of its 1970s heyday.

"This is certainly a very unique case, something that we haven't seen dating back to Manuel Noriega approximately 36 years ago," Rahmani said. "Obviously, there are similarities and there are people that are concerned that this really opens a Pandora's box where leaders of foreign countries are going to be brought to trial here in the United States. So long as there's evidence and probable cause to move forward and you can get a guilty verdict beyond a reasonable doubt, Maduro can be prosecuted in the United States - there's nothing Congress, there's nothing the United Nations and there's nothing Venezuela can do to stop it, even though it may not be the best decision politically - legally, it is a sound one."

MADURO, WIFE APPEAR, PLEAD NOT GUILTY

On Monday morning, Maduro - his hands zip-tied - and his wife were escorted by armed guards in tactical gear from a Brooklyn detention center to a helicopter bound for the Manhattan federal court.

The judge began the hearing at 12:02 p.m. (1702 GMT) by summarizing the charges in the indictment. Shackled at the ankles and wearing orange and beige prison garb, Maduro listened on headphones through an interpreter.

Hellerstein asked Maduro to stand and confirm his identity. He replied in Spanish.

The judge told the couple of their right to inform the Venezuelan consulate of their arrests.

Prosecutors say Maduro has been involved in drug trafficking from the time he began serving in Venezuela's National Assembly in 2000 to his tenure as foreign minister and subsequent 2013 election as the late president Hugo Chavez's successor.

MADURO LAWYER PREDICTS LEGAL FIGHT OVER 'MILITARY ABDUCTION'

Maduro lawyer Barry Pollack said he anticipated voluminous and complex litigation over what he called his client's "military abduction."

"Expect the defense to raise some of the arguments that were discussed in court today, specifically sovereign immunity," Rahmani said. "Typically, the head of state can't be prosecuted - now an important caveat is it has to be the head of state as recognized by the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. State Department does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate ruler of Venezuela - that's why it specifically says in the indictment 'is the illegitimate ruler of the country.' So that determination is not something that can typically be challenged in the court... I still expect Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, to make the argument - but I do expect it to fail."

Flores's lawyer, Mark Donnelly, said she sustained significant injuries including severe bruising on her ribs and asked that she be provided X-rays and a physical evaluation.

Federal prosecutors in New York first indicted Maduro in 2020 as part of a long-running narcotics trafficking case against current and former Venezuelan officials and Colombian guerrillas. An updated indictment made public on Saturday added some new details and co-defendants, including Flores.

The U.S. has considered Maduro an illegitimate dictator since he declared victory in a 2018 election marred by allegations of massive irregularities. Trump has threatened another strike if Venezuela does not cooperate with opening its oil industry and stopping drugs.

"The United States has jurisdiction over anyone who is importing drugs into the country, even if they're a foreign national, even if they're not a U.S. citizen," Rahmani said. "Even if international law were violated, even if Maduro were kidnapped unlawfully under international law, that does not affect his prosecution in the United States."