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Nicolas Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, along with his wife, were reportedly taken to the Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, United States, following their arrest early on the 3rd.

CNN and other outlets reported that Maduro was observed moving around 5:25 p.m., dressed in gray and wearing handcuffs, with approximately 30 federal agents surrounding him. AP mentioned, “Several agents seemed to be recording Maduro using their mobile phones.” Earlier, he had been taken into custody by U.S. special forces during the early morning hours and was subsequently transported. According to a source involved in the case, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had a government plane ready at the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba.

Maduro has faced charges from a New York federal court since 2020, including conspiracy to engage in narcoterrorism, conspiracy to bring in cocaine, possession of machine guns and dangerous devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons. According to the indictment, New York federal prosecutors noted, “Maduro led a drug trafficking group known as the ‘Cartel de los Soles,’ or the ‘Cartel of the Sun,’ as he increased his influence in Venezuela.” The name “Sun” comes from the sun symbol found on the uniforms of senior members of the cartel.

The prosecutors stated in the indictment that, under Maduro’s leadership, the group utilized the military, courts, and intelligence services to create pathways for cocaine to enter the U.S., with the goal of strengthening control and increasing financial resources.

The case will be overseen by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein from the Southern District of New York. Nominated by former President Bill Clinton in 1998, Hellerstein is now 93 years old. It is still unknown where Maduro will be transported from the military airport. However, *The New York Times* suggested that he might first be taken by helicopter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office in New York City and then held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

The five other defendants, along with Maduro, are anticipated to enter not guilty pleas. The judge is expected to mandate their detention until the trial, which might extend beyond a year. It remains unclear if Maduro has retained legal representation or will be provided with a public defender. *The Wall Street Journal* noted that he might appear before the judge as early as next week.