US judge sets Maduro trial date for June 2027

A US judge on Wednesday set a date for Venezuelan former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to go on trial in New York, where they will face charges of drug trafficking.

The two have been detained since early January, when US forces entered Venezuela and seized them from their Caracas home.

The unprecedented middle-of-the-night raid was hailed by US President Donald Trump as a "surgical law enforcement operation" in a criminal case, which had been brought against the couple six years ago. 

Maduro has maintained his innocence, calling himself a prisoner of war and referring to his capture as a kidnapping.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein set June 1, 2027, as the trial date for Maduro and his wife, following a joint request from prosecutors and defense counsel.

Hellerstein also scheduled an upcoming hearing for November 17 to discuss defense motions, including a challenge to the legality of how Maduro and Flores were captured and brought to the United States.

"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," Maduro's lawyer Barry Pollack told the judge on Wednesday.