Nicolas Maduro, wife Cilia Flores to appear in federal court to face…

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores are expected to make their first appearance before a U.S. federal judge earlier this week, CBS News reported. Court officials stated that the case will be heard in the Southern District of New York and the first hearing will be held at noon local time on Monday.

The discovery would come just days after what US officials described as a dramatic, coordinated operation that led to the couple being removed from Venezuela and transported to the US to face criminal charges.

Capture and Transfer to the USA Reported

According to reports in the US media based on government sources, Maduro and Flores were detained in Caracas during a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and American law enforcement. These individuals were reportedly removed from their homes, taken to the USS Iwo Jima, and then flown to the United States.

CBS News reported that both arrived in New York on Saturday afternoon. Maduro was then transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, where he arrived at approximately 8:52 p.m. Eastern Time. He was not expected to be housed in a separate unit as of Saturday night. Details of Flores’ custody arrangements have not been made public.

Detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center

Built in the 1990s to relieve overcrowding in federal prisons, the MDC Brooklyn facility previously housed several high-profile detainees. They include singer R. Kelly, former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli, socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and former cryptocurrency executive Sam Bankman-Fried. Media reports also state that suspected cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García was once held there while awaiting trial.

Costs Specified in the Federal Indictment

The indictment filed in the Southern District of New York reportedly includes the names of Maduro’s family members and close circle. US prosecutors have accused the Venezuelan leader of allegedly participating in narco-terrorism activities and conspiring to transport large quantities of cocaine into the US.

The indictment, sealed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, also includes weapons-related allegations, accusing Maduro of possessing and conspiring to possess machine guns and other prohibited weapons.

What’s Next?

If the court hearing goes ahead as planned, it will be the first official step in what could be a long and politically charged legal process. U.S. officials have not yet released further details about the timeline of the trial or whether additional charges will follow.