Maduro appeared in a federal court in New York on Monday, shortly after being captured in a US military operation. This event has increased political instability in the oil-rich country of Venezuela.
IMAGE: MADURO
Maduro, who is 63 years old, and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken to the Manhattan courthouse under heavy security.
They were moved from a Brooklyn jail to Manhattan by helicopter and were seen in handcuffs while being transported in a heavily armored vehicle.
The couple appeared before US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.
It was unclear if they had legal counsel or if they would make any formal statements.
Maduro and his wife have been held in Brooklyn since US forces took them from Caracas during a surprise raid on the weekend.
The operation has received strong international reactions and is considered Washington's most controversial military action in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama.
The United States has refused to recognize Maduro since the 2018 presidential election, which Washington claims had serious irregularities.
Prosecutors have accused Maduro of leading a network of Venezuelan political and military officials involved in large-scale cocaine trafficking in partnership with international criminal groups.
They claim thousands of tons of cocaine were smuggled into the United States.
Maduro was first indicted in 2020 for a narcotics trafficking case involving current and former Venezuelan officials and Colombian armed groups.
A new indictment was released on Saturday, asserting that Maduro personally directed a state-backed drug trafficking operation that worked with Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombia’s FARC, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang.
He faces charges of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and related conspiracy charges.
If convicted, he could receive decades or a life sentence.
According to prosecutors, Maduro's alleged involvement began during his time as a lawmaker in 2000, through his role as foreign minister from 2006 to 2013, and during his presidency after Hugo Chavez's death.
The indictment also claims that cocaine smuggling routes were protected by parts of the Venezuelan military and that diplomatic documents were misused to help move drugs.
Maduro has ruled Venezuela for over a decade, during which the country experienced a severe economic and social crisis.
His capture followed months of pressure from former US president Donald Trump, including actions targeting Venezuelan oil shipments and suspected drug-smuggling vessels.
The legality of the US raid has been questioned by international law experts.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned it could set a dangerous precedent. The UN Security Council was set to meet on Monday to address the operation, while Russia and China have criticized Washington's actions.