Nicolás Maduro, the former Venezuelan dictator, has released photographs depicting him appearing noticeably slimmer while detained in New York. The images, posted on Sunday, show him wearing gray sweatpants and gesturing with two fingers against a plain wall.
In a message accompanying the photos, Maduro thanked supporters for their prayers and assured his family of his resilience. He dedicated one photograph to his grandchildren, children, and supporters.
The photographs bear a June 25 date, though they were published on August 30 via Maduro’s social media accounts. Maduro has been held in New York since U.S. forces captured him in Caracas on January 3, 2024. His most recent public appearance was at a court hearing on July 22. A trial scheduled for June 1, 2027, remains the primary milestone ahead of his detention.
The charges against Maduro include narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses, which he denies. Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, is also detained in New York. Both have pleaded not guilty to allegations involving decades of using government power to facilitate cocaine trafficking and enrich themselves. Prosecutors allege that Maduro used his position as foreign minister to provide diplomatic passports for traffickers and shield aircraft carrying drug proceeds from Mexico.
The Justice Department’s superseding indictment details how Maduro and Flores allegedly worked together under armed protection to traffic cocaine. The couple has been actively campaigning for their release through social media, sharing messages of faith and support.
