Maduro appears before a judge in New York and pleads not guilty: "I was captured, I am still the president of my country."

Nicolás Maduro appeared on Monday before a federal court in New York in an unthinkable scene after years of anti-American rhetoric and absolute power in Caracas.

Handcuffed, guarded by federal agents and wearing headphones for simultaneous translation, the Chavista leader pleaded not guilty to all charges he faces in the United States, while insisting before the judge: “I am a decent man, I am still the president of my country,” reported the EFE agency.

Maduro appeared alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, who is also accused, in the Southern District Court of New York, presided over by veteran judge Alvin Hellerstein.

"I was captured," Maduro himself said before the magistrate, confirming that he was detained at his residence in Caracas during a lightning operation carried out on Saturday night.

The subsequent helicopter transfer to Manhattan completed a scene that many compare to a movie, but for millions of Venezuelans and migrants, it represents a political and symbolic turning point.

The U.S. prosecutor's office accuses Maduro and Flores of conspiracy for narcoterrorism, cocaine trafficking, and possession of military-grade weapons. According to the file presented by the Department of Justice, both have allegedly participated for years in drug trafficking networks protected by Venezuelan state structures, even using diplomatic passports and official cover to facilitate the transportation of drugs and money.

Maduro responded in Spanish, with a firm tone, reiterating his innocence and reaffirming his political authority, despite being under judicial custody in the United States. His wife, who identified herself as "the First Lady of Venezuela," also denied all charges.

The Chavista will be represented by Barry Pollack, an attorney known for negotiating the release of Julian Assange, while Flores' defense will be handled by a former federal prosecutor with extensive experience in financial cases. The process, according to judicial sources, could last for months and possibly more than a year, and it is not ruled out that the prosecution may seek a plea agreement to avoid a trial.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 17. Until then, Maduro will remain in custody, facing not only U.S. justice but also the symbolic weight of an image that many thought impossible.