A woman screams during a government-organized event to watch former President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores appear in a New York court on a screen in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
NEW YORK (AP) — Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro returned to federal court in New York on Thursday, seeking the dismissal of his drug trafficking indictment in the wake of his capture in a U.S. military raid in January. Maduro supporters and opponents gathered outside the courthouse while in Caracas, supporters of Venezuela’s former first couple gathered in a public square hoping to watch the hearing on a screen, unaware that U.S. federal courts do not allow cameras.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is escorted into a Manhattan federal courtroom, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)A motorcade carrying former Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro makes its way along FDR Drive after departing Manhattan federal court after a pre-trial hearing in Maduro’s drug trafficking case, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)Demonstrators protest outside Manhattan federal court before a pre-trial hearing in former Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s drug trafficking case, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)A demonstrator drags an effigy of former Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro outside Manhattan federal court before a pre-trial hearing in Maduro’s drug trafficking case, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)A mural depicting former President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores adorns a building in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)People react during a government-organized event to watch former President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores appear in a New York court on a screen in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)Men work out in Columbus Park as people protest outside Manhattan federal court before a pre-trial hearing in former Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s drug trafficking case, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)Demonstrators protest outside Manhattan federal court before a pre-trial hearing in former Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s drug trafficking case, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)A woman attends a government-organized event to watch former President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores appear in a New York court on a screen in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)Demonstrators protest outside Manhattan federal court before a pre-trial hearing in former Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s drug trafficking case, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)New York Police officers stand outside Manhattan federal court, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)People march in support of former President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores in the 23 de Enero neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)
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