Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has appeared in a New York court, three days after being captured by US forces during a military operation in his country’s capital Caracas.
Mr Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared around noon, local time before a judge for a brief, but required, procedural hearing ahead of what is expected to be a prolonged legal battle over whether he can be put on trial in the US.
Lawyers for the deposed Venezuelan leader are expected to contest the legality of his arrest, arguing that he is immune from prosecution as a sovereign head of state, the Associated Press reported.
The US does not recognise Mr Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state after a disputed 2024 presidential election.
Both put on headsets to hear the English-language proceeding as it was translated into Spanish.
The couple were transported under armed guard early Monday from the Brooklyn jail where they’ve been detained to a Manhattan courthouse.
The Venezuelan president and first lady were snatched from Caracas in a complex operation at the weekend.
After his capture, the ousted leader, 63, was taken to New York City on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States.
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