In a filing with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, attorneys for former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, former first lady Cilia Flores, argued that the criminal case against them must be dismissed because they enjoy sovereign immunity as the recognized leaders of Venezuela.

Legal arguments focus on head‑of‑state immunity

The lawyers contend that no American court has ever tried a sitting foreign head of state, and that longstanding international law shields such leaders from prosecution in another nation’s courts. They wrote, “Heads of state are exempt from the criminal process of any national court but their own.”

Even if a court were to consider a waiver of that immunity, Maduro’s counsel asserts he is also protected by conduct‑based sovereign immunity for actions taken in his official capacity.

Case timeline and upcoming proceedings

Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, have been detained in a Brooklyn jail since a U.S. operation seized them from their Caracas residence in early January. The indictment, originally filed six years ago, alleges a conspiracy to ship large quantities of cocaine into the United States. If convicted, the pair face potential life‑sentence terms.

The trial is scheduled for June 1, with oral arguments on the dismissal motions set for November 17 before Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. Federal prosecutors are expected to file a response later this month.

Trump administration defends the raid

The Trump administration has described the January seizure as a “surgical law‑enforcement operation,” emphasizing its role in disrupting a major drug‑smuggling network. Maduro has denounced his capture as a kidnapping and called himself a prisoner of war.

U.S. prosecutors maintain that Maduro colluded with Venezuelan officials to facilitate the movement of thousands of tons of cocaine, working with drug kingpins to funnel the narcotics into the United States.

Both defendants have entered not‑guilty pleas and continue to deny the allegations.

Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.