Maduro Appears in New York Court Accused of Leading Vast Cocaine Trafficking Network

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro appeared in a New York courtroom this week after being indicted by US prosecutors on charges of large-scale drug trafficking, allegations he strongly denies.

According to the United States Department of Justice, Maduro abused his public offices for more than two decades to facilitate the transport of thousands of tonnes of cocaine to the United States and Europe. Prosecutors allege he led the so-called «Cartel of the Suns», a network involving senior military and government officials.

The indictment links Maduro to a series of major cocaine shipments, including a 2013 seizure of 1.3 tonnes at Charles de Gaulle Airport, the largest airport drug bust in French history. US authorities claim the operation could not have occurred without high-level political protection.

Maduro was escorted into court by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and armed law enforcement officers. He has pleaded not guilty and described himself as a «prisoner of war».

Washington first publicly accused Maduro of drug trafficking in 2020, offering a multimillion-dollar reward for information leading to his conviction. The case is expected to hinge on testimony from former allies and alleged co-conspirators, some of whom are already in US custody.

The Venezuelan government has dismissed the charges as politically motivated, while analysts say the trial could expose the country’s alleged role as a major transit hub for cocaine bound for Europe and North America.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has issued a sharp rebuke of US foreign policy under President Donald Trump.