Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was recently seen in photos posted on his social media accounts. These images, shared on Sunday, provide the first known look at him inside a New York prison since his capture by U.S. forces in January. Following a significant military operation in Caracas, Maduro was brought to the U.S. and is now held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He faces drug trafficking charges and has been in custody for eight months.
In the photos that appeared on Maduro’s social media account, he is dressed in a gray sweatsuit with white sneakers. Observers noted a change in his appearance, as he seems thinner. The former leader described sharing these images as a token of hope for his family and supporters, assuring them that “we will remain strong, serene, and confident” and that “Venezuela will be reborn.” He conveyed these sentiments while flashing peace signs in the photos.
I send these photos as a small gift to all my grandsons and granddaughters, to the boys and girls, and to all the noble people who love us,” Maduro communicated. “I want you to know that we stand firm, with our hearts full of your love, that love that reaches us transformed into prayer, into constant action, into solidarity and true support. Infinite thanks for every word, for every gesture, for every blessing.”
His wife, also involved in related drug trafficking charges, is now in New York. Maduro expressed emotional support to his followers in a message: “Cilia and I embrace you forever, with our souls devoted to you and with our faith in God intact.”
The photos were noted to have been taken on June 25, one day after severe earthquakes impacted northern Venezuela. The release of these images closely followed President Donald Trump’s announcement regarding a new U.S.-Venezuela oil agreement. This deal allows the U.S. control over 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil, impacting the American oil market while addressing rising gas prices due to ongoing conflicts in the region.
Since his detention, reports from Nicolás Maduro Guerra, Maduro’s son, state that the former president spends much of his time reading the Bible. According to El País, Maduro has 510 minutes per month for phone conversations with people outside the prison. Both Maduro and his wife are scheduled to go on trial in New York in June 2027. They have pleaded not guilty but face potential life sentences if found guilty of conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the U.S.