Maduro, Wife Seek Dismissal of US Drug Charges Over Sanctions

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York federal courtroom on Thursday to argue for the dismissal of drug trafficking and narcoterrorism charges, contending that U.S. sanctions have violated their constitutional right to legal representation by blocking access to government funds for their defense.

The hearing before U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein in Manhattan marked the couple's first court appearance since their January arraignment, where they pleaded not guilty. Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, remain in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn without seeking bail. The session was originally scheduled to allow defense lawyers to review evidence and discuss a potential trial timeline, but it centered on a motion to dismiss the case or hold a separate hearing into the government's handling of legal fees.

Prosecutors accuse Maduro and Flores of leading a 25-year conspiracy to import thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States, working with drug cartels and Venezuelan military members. The 25-page indictment details allegations that they ordered kidnappings, beatings and murders to protect their...