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Nicolás Maduro and wife ask US judge to dismiss drug charges on immunity grounds

Attorneys argue the court lacks jurisdiction over foreign leaders, while the couple awaits a November hearing in New York.

Updated Sep 4, 2026 · 16:19 UTC4 reports

The short version

  • Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores asked a federal judge to dismiss their US drug trafficking indictment, asserting sovereign and conduct-based immunity.[NPR · Fox News]
  • Maduro's legal defense contends that American courts lack jurisdiction over recognized foreign heads of state.[NPR · Fox News]
  • Federal Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein scheduled oral arguments regarding the dismissal motions for November 17.[NPR · Al Jazeera]
  • Both defendants remain detained in Brooklyn after pleading not guilty, though reports differ on whether their trial is set for June 2027 or an earlier date.[NPR · Al Jazeera]

Key facts

  • Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores petitioned a federal judge to dismiss their drug trafficking indictment citing sovereign immunity.[NPR · Fox News]
  • The defense asserted that US courts lack jurisdiction over foreign heads of state and that conduct-based immunity applies.[NPR · Fox News]
  • Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein set oral arguments on the dismissal motions for November 17.[NPR · Al Jazeera]
  • Maduro and Flores were detained following an early January raid in Caracas by US forces and are held in a Brooklyn facility.[NPR]
  • US authorities stopped recognizing Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president in 2019.[Al Jazeera · Fox News]

What remains uncertain

  • The exact trial date remains disputed across reports, with sources citing either June 1 of next year or June 1, 2027.[NPR · Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.