NEW YORK: A judge on Wednesday set a June 1, 2027, trial date for ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on US drug trafficking charges, while a defence lawyer vowed to seek dismissal of the case on the grounds that Maduro is immune from prosecution as the head of a sovereign state.

Maduro and his wife, wearing beige prison garb, appeared during a hearing lasting about 20 minutes in Manhattan federal court before US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in one of the most consequential criminal cases in recent US history.

US commandos captured Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, at their heavily guarded home in Caracas during a January 3 nighttime military raid ordered by President Donald Trump. They were brought to New York, where they previously had been indicted on charges of using their leadership positions in the oil-rich South American country to facilitate cocaine shipments. They have pleaded not guilty.

In addition to scheduling the date for the trial to begin, Hellerstein set a Sept 2 deadline for Maduro’s first round of legal motions seeking to have the case dismissed, as well as a November 17 hearing for arguments over those motions. Defense lawyer Barry Pollack told the judge he would seek to dismiss the case on immunity grounds.

Maduro faces four felony counts including narcoterrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy. He could face a life sentence if convicted.

“The parties all agree that this is a realistic schedule. We don’t think it’s going to slip, but obviously if anything comes up we will inform your honor,” Pollack told the judge on Wednesday. It is not yet clear how long the trial is expected to last.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2026