And Maduro’s allies claim he was detained

And Maduro’s allies claim he was detained

January 5, 2026 Ahmed Hassan - World News Editor World

Here’s a summary of the provided text:

Nicolas Maduro, the President of Venezuela, has been arrested in the US.

Key points:

* Charges: Maduro is accused of narco-terrorism ‌conspiracy,cocaine importation conspiracy,and weapons charges.
* US Justification: ‍ The US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, called⁢ Maduro “an illegitimate so-called president” and described the arrest as ⁣a “surgical law enforcement operation” to apprehend a “fugitive from justice.”
* Court Appearance: During his initial court ⁤appearance, Maduro maintained his innocence, claiming ⁣he was a “kidnapped president” and a “prisoner of war.” A member of the public yelled threats ‍at him in Spanish.
* Judge’s Intervention: ‌ The judge, Alvin ⁤Hellerstein, reminded Maduro that the hearing wasn’t the appropriate ​time to debate the situation.
* Public Support: ⁢ A rally in support​ of Maduro was held outside the National ‌Assembly in Caracas.