A federal judge has established June 1, 2027 as the trial date for former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a drug trafficking case. Both defendants have entered not guilty pleas and have challenged the legitimacy of the proceedings themselves.
Maduro and Flores were taken into US custody during a military operation in January 2026. The Trump administration has characterized the operation as a law enforcement action targeting alleged drug trafficking activities, though international legal experts have widely disputed the legality of the military raid. Venezuelan authorities reported that the operation resulted in 83 deaths.
Maduro faces four separate counts, including conspiracy related to narco-terrorism and cocaine importation, with potential sentences of life imprisonment upon conviction. During his initial court appearance earlier this year, Maduro asserted his innocence and claimed his status as the constitutional president of Venezuela. His attorney, Barry Pollack, indicated plans to file motions challenging the raid’s legality and seeking to invoke sovereign immunity protections, which could potentially eliminate the need for further litigation.
Neither defendant participated in the brief 15-minute hearing on Wednesday. Both have refrained from seeking bail release, and the trial date was set following requests from attorneys representing both sides. The interim presidency of Venezuela has since been assumed by Delcy Rodriguez, whose administration has moved closer to US policy alignment.
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