Ex-President Maduro Jailed in New York on Drug Charges

Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro spent Wednesday night in a New York City jail. This followed a court appearance where he pleaded not guilty to charges of international drug trafficking. The U.S. government accuses Maduro and several associates of conspiring to send cocaine to the United States. Prosecutors say the scheme was designed to flood American cities with drugs. Maduro’s arrest and trial raise immediate questions about U.S. policy toward Venezuela. The administration of former President Donald Trump had recognized an opposition figure as Venezuela's legitimate leader. Legal experts now watch to see how the case proceeds. It occurs amid ongoing political and economic crisis in Venezuela. Maduro’s defense team has called the charges a political attack. The case places the U.S. justice system at the center of the long-running dispute over who rightfully leads the South American nation.