Maduro Held in Brooklyn as Venezuela Tightens Security and Brazil Denounces U.S. Raid

Overview

• Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty in a New York federal court and remain detained in Brooklyn, with a pretrial session scheduled for March 17 under Judge Alvin Hellerstein.
• Venezuela faces heightened deployments of police and pro‑government colectivos, with masked armed patrols reported in Caracas neighborhoods and residents describing fear, empty streets, and runs on basic goods.
• Venezuelan Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab asked the New York court to recognize a lack of jurisdiction, while opening probes into what he called war crimes; official and independent counts cite dozens of military and civilian deaths.
• Brazil’s ambassador to the OAS called the U.S. strikes and Maduro’s seizure a grave affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty, as regional leaders urged respect for international law and due process.
• In Brazil, Lula allies weigh electoral risks as opposition figures celebrate the operation and tie the president to Maduro, while separate scrutiny of Jair Bolsonaro’s detention conditions follows reports of a fall and delayed medical care.