world 31 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Maduro Shares First Photos from US Detention
Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has released his first photographs from a US detention facility, where he is being held on drug trafficking and firearm charges. The images, shared on social media, depict him appearing to have lost weight and sending a message of resilience. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/world/former-venezuela-president-maduro-posts-first-photos-from-us-detention-5578306
Nicolas Maduro, the former president of Venezuela, has shared two images appearing to be taken while he is in US custody. He and his wife, Cilia Flores, were reportedly apprehended by US special forces in Caracas in January and subsequently moved to a detention center in Brooklyn, New York. They face charges of drug trafficking and firearm possession, which they deny.
Maduro posted the photos on the social media platforms X and Telegram, addressing them as a “small gift” to his loved ones and “good people who love us.” He conveyed a message of fortitude, stating, “I want you to know that we are standing firm, with our hearts full of your love. We will remain strong, calm and confident: God is with us. God will provide. Venezuela will rise again.”
The images show Maduro in a grey tracksuit, making peace signs. Observers noted a significant weight loss since his alleged capture. The photos were published on a Sunday, but the metadata suggests they were taken on June 25, shortly after severe earthquakes struck Venezuela.
While the authenticity and authorization of the photos from the detention center have not been immediately confirmed, their release comes just days after Venezuela’s interim president announced an oil agreement with the US. Maduro, reportedly without internet or newspaper access in detention, is allowed limited phone calls with family and lawyers.
His trial, alongside his wife, is scheduled to commence on June 1, 2027, in a New York federal court.