Venezuelan President Maduro appears in Manhattan court to deny allegations

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appeared in a Manhattan court on Tuesday, where he declared his innocence and maintained that he is still the president of Venezuela. The 92-year-old judge presiding over the case, Alvin Hellerstein, has been tapped for the high-profile case.

Maduro was charged with drug trafficking and money laundering related to a deal with Colombian cartel leader Dairo Antonio Uscatiola. According to reports, Maduro allegedly agreed to provide Venezuelan airspace in exchange for $100 million worth of cocaine shipments.

The court heard that Maduro pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming he was “captured” by US authorities during a visit to New York City. He stated that he is still the president of Venezuela and will not be extradited.

The case has sparked controversy, with many questioning the legitimacy of the trial and the involvement of US authorities in Venezuelan affairs.

In related news, the court has scheduled further hearings for the case, which is expected to continue in the coming days.

Source: Google News World