Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have appeared in a New York court, pleading not guilty to multiple charges three days after their capture in Caracas.
Mr Maduro and Ms Flores fronted a brief hearing ahead of what is expected to be a prolonged legal battle over whether he can be put on trial in the United States.
The deposed president, 63, has been charged with 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.
His lawyers are expected to contest the legality of his arrest, arguing that he is immune from prosecution as a sovereign head of state.
Ms Flores faces many of the same charges, but is not accused of narco-terrorism conspiracy.
Both defendants put on headsets to hear a Spanish translation of the proceeding on Monday, local time.
"I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the president of my country," Mr Maduro said at one point.
He said he had been "kidnapped" after being captured at his home, but was cut short by the judge, who said he only needed to state his name.
The court "will evaluate the legal sufficiency of what was done" at a later date, US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein said.
When it came time to plead, Mr Maduro told the court: "I am innocent, I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here," referring to the 25-page indictment.
Ms Flores spoke softly and introduced herself as the first lady of the Republic of Venezuela.
She said she was "not guilty, completely innocent".
The US does not recognise Mr Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate head of state after a disputed 2024 presidential election.
Both he and his wife chose to waive their right to a speedy trial.
The matter will return to court on March 17.
Maduro shackled, flanked by marshals
The Venezuelan president and first lady were snatched from Caracas in a complex mission at the weekend, dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve.
As part of it, the US military deployed around 150 aircraft from at least 20 different locations, as well as troops from the elite Delta Squadron.
After their capture, the pair were taken to New York City and detained at a Brooklyn jail. They were flown by helicopter to the Manhattan court at about 8am on Monday.
About four hours later, they entered court wearing orange long-sleeve shirts with dark blue T-shirts on top. Mr Maduro's hair was brushed back and Ms Flores's blonde hair was pulled back into a low bun.
Flanked by two US marshals, Mr Maduro slowly walked in with his ankles shackled and nodded to the public and press gallery, saying "happy new year" three times.
He shook the hand of his lawyer, Barry Pollack, who has previously represented Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
The defence requested medical checks for both defendants, including an X-ray for Ms Flores, who appeared to have a bruise on the side of her right eye and a welt on her forehead. The defence said she sustained those injuries when she was captured by the US military.
Additional courtrooms were opened for Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents to watch live-streamed proceedings.
Man confronts Maduro in courtroom
News agencies and the public began lining up outside the Manhattan court on Sunday night, local time, to secure a spot inside.
By daybreak, dozens of cameras and reporters were in front of the building.
A small group of protesters also gathered outside court, holding signs demanding the US free Mr Maduro and take its "hands off Venezuela".
"America has no jurisdiction to walk into another country, bomb Caracas and abduct a leader," one protester said.
Another group of demonstrators celebrated the US capture of Mr Maduro.
"I think that all the people that trust in democracy and freedom, we're celebrating the freedom of our country," one said.
Inside, as the defendants stood to leave the courtroom, a man in the public gallery shouted at Mr Maduro in Spanish: "You're going to pay in the name of all the Venezuelan people."
Mr Maduro turned to the man, gave him a thumbs-up and said in Spanish: "I am a man of God, I am a prisoner of war."
That man was ejected from the court for speaking.
He told media outside that his name was Pedro Rojas and he was a prisoner in Venezuela for four years before moving to Florida.
"He looked right at me," Mr Rojas said of Mr Maduro.
"And I am not afraid, in the name of the 40 million Venezuelans who are happy today because of the detention of Nicolás Maduro Moros in adherence to the law."
The Manhattan court has previously heard multiple other high-profile cases including those of Ghislaine Maxwell, Sean "Diddy" Combs and former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez.
Defendants and allies accused of aiding traffickers
Mr Maduro has led the South American country since 2013, succeeding former president Hugo Chávez.
In the years since, he has overseen a collapse in Venezuela's economy, instituted crackdowns on political opponents, and faced allegations of electoral fraud during the 2018 and 2024 presidential elections.
In recent months, the Trump administration has conducted a pressure campaign against Mr Maduro's government, alleging the Venezuelan leader is the unofficial leader of drug cartel Cártel de los Soles.
The US government had previously issued a $US50 million ($74.5 million) reward for information seeking to the arrest and conviction of Mr Maduro.
An indictment unsealed against Mr Maduro, his wife, his son and others alleged he and other Venezuelan leaders "abused their positions of public trust and corrupted once-legitimate institutions to import tons of cocaine into the United States".
The indictment alleged Mr Maduro and his allies "provided law enforcement cover and logistical support" to major drug trafficking groups, such as the Sinaloa Cartel and Tren de Aragua gang.
These criminal organisations sent profits to high-ranking officials who protected them in exchange, the Justice Department said.
ABC/wires
[venezuela zendesk]
