Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have pleaded not guilty in a New York court to drug and weapons charges. Maduro told Judge Alvin Hellerstein, “I am innocent, I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I’m the president of the republic of Venezuela ... I am here kidnapped.” The judge adjourned the matter until March 17.

The legal protocols in evidence in court stand in stark contrast to how Maduro and his wife got to that point. At the weekend, US forces stormed his compound in Venezuela and whisked the pair out of the country. There was little crying globally for the demise of the dictatorial leader who has played a starring role in the failing of the state. Five years ago, he was indicted by the US on narco-terrorism charges for allegedly running a scheme to send tonnes of cocaine to the US.

Nicolás Maduro is led by federal agents in New York.Credit: GC Images

He has denied the allegations. In 2024, he appeared to lose an election in a landslide but kept power through a violent crackdown against his political opponents.

The question still remains, however, did the ends justify the means in his ousting?........

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