Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty on Monday in their first New York court appearance after the U.S. captured them in a surprise attack.
Maduro faces a narco-terrorism conspiracy charge.
He and his wife were both charged with cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons offences.
Maduro, who called himself the president of Venezuela, said he was “kidnapped” and “captured” from his home in Caracas.
“I am a prisoner of war,” he added in Spanish. Flores also described herself as the first lady of Venezuela in court.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. is “in charge” of Venezuela and warned its interim leader to cooperate or pay a “very big price.”
Delcy Rodríguez, who was Venezuela’s vice president under Maduro, has been sworn in as the country’s new president in the capital, Caracas.
Trump said America would tap into Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
He has also issued new threats against Colombia, Mexico and Greenland and predicted Cuba’s regime will fall.
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