Former Venezuelan president Maduro seeks to throw out US drug charges

Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's president, appeared in a New York court to seek dismissal of US drug trafficking charges against him. The Trump administration has long accused Maduro's government of facilitating cocaine trafficking and money laundering, part of broader tensions between Washington and Caracas over Maduro's contested grip on power and democratic governance in Venezuela. A successful motion to dismiss would undercut years of US efforts to prosecute Venezuelan officials for narcotics crimes and could affect ongoing efforts to pressure Maduro's regime. Maduro has consistently denied the drug allegations, characterizing them as politically motivated weaponization by the United States. The outcome could reshape the legal and diplomatic landscape between the two countries as Trump returns to office with hardline Venezuela policies.