Nicolás Maduro, the deposed president of Venezuela, pleaded not guilty to drug, weapons, and narco-terrorism charges on Monday. His plea came two days after US special forces captured him in Caracas in a bold operation ordered by former President Donald Trump. The arraignment hearing held in Manhattan lasted about 30 minutes. Maduro confirmed his name and said he understood the four charges against him. He called himself “still president of my country” and a “prisoner of war.” He said, “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man.” Maduro appeared in orange slippers, a blue shirt over a neon orange shirt, and beige pants, shackled at the ankles. He faces serious US charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns. Each charge may lead to life imprisonment. Maduro was first indicted in 2020, along with 14 others, in a drug trafficking case involving Venezuelan officials and Colombian guerrillas. Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, also captured in the early morning raid that killed around 40 people, pleaded not guilty and claimed innocence. She suffered injuries during the operation and required medical attention. The pair were held at the Metropolitan detention center in Brooklyn, a prison known for high-profile inmates. They were then flown to Manhattan under heavy security. Outside the courthouse, clashes occurred between Maduro’s supporters and opponents. The arrest and charges stunned the world. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting, where many countries condemned the US action as a “crime of aggression.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the raid might violate international law and could worsen instability in Venezuela and the region. The US indictment, announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi, accused Maduro and his allies of working with violent drug traffickers to send cocaine to the US. The operation followed US military strikes against alleged drug boats off Venezuela, which caused many deaths and sparked legal debates about war crimes. Trump defended the mission, saying it was needed to stop drugs entering the US and to seize Venezuela’s “stolen” oil. He promised the US would control Venezuela’s oil resources in the future. In Venezuela, Maduro’s son called the arrest a kidnapping. Deputy leader Delcy Rodríguez offered to work with the US after Trump threatened her with severe consequences if she resisted. Tensions rose elsewhere in Latin America. Colombia’s president warned he would “take up arms” if the US launched military action there. The global community reacted with concern about the US’s aggressive move and possible expansion to other countries like Cuba and Iran, seen by some as a return to “naked imperialism.”