Nicolas Maduro and his wife have spoken out from their prison in New York after their dramatic capture by the United States. Facing charges of drug trafficking, they assert they are “strong and serene” despite an explosive trial looming.
The ousted Venezuelan president and his wife were captured in Caracas on January 3 in a spectacular American operation. In their first message since their incarceration, they expressed feeling “strong, serene” on Saturday.
“We are fine, we are strong, serene, and in constant prayer,” they wrote in a message relayed by their close ones the day before Holy Week, a significant period in this predominantly Catholic country.
The former Venezuelan strongman and his wife were arrested in a nighttime American operation at their Caracas palace. They have since been held in a high-security prison in the Brooklyn neighborhood of New York.
Charged with drug trafficking, the couple briefly appeared in a US federal court on Thursday without speaking. While in detention, Mr. Maduro has no access to newspapers or the internet but is allowed a 15-minute phone call with his family and lawyers, according to a source close to the leader.
Nicolas Maduro had not spoken since his initial court appearance in New York on January 5. Defiant, he presented himself as “the president of the Republic of Venezuela” in office, “kidnapped” by the United States, and since then defining himself as a “prisoner of war.”
His son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, had previously mentioned that his father was doing well and exercising in prison, where he is allowed an hour of outdoor time daily.
[Context: Nicolas Maduro, the former president of Venezuela, and his wife were arrested in Caracas by the United States on charges of drug trafficking. They have been incarcerated in a high-security prison in Brooklyn, New York. The couple insists they are feeling strong and calm despite the upcoming trial.]
[Fact Check: It is important to note that the legal proceedings are ongoing, and statements made by the couple may be subject to legal scrutiny and interpretation.]
