The captured Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, has been brought to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport as part of a well-planned operation to transfer him from prison. The 63-year-old leader will be facing charges of narcoterrorism and weapon offences at a court in Manhattan later today.
In the early hours of the morning, a motorcade, which included an armoured vehicle carrying Maduro, was seen leaving the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn. As he stepped out of the vehicle, bound in handcuffs and dressed in beige overalls and orange trainers, Maduro was captured on film by a news helicopter. He was then led into an SUV with the backdrop of dusk.
As the sun rose, Maduro was loaded onto a helicopter and flown to Manhattan Island. The former union leader, standing at 6'3, had ruled Venezuela with an iron grip for 12 years. However, he appeared powerless as he was escorted by federal agents from the helicopter to an awaiting armoured motorcade. The motorcade then drove him to the court building, where he arrived shortly before 8am local time.
According to court documents, Maduro is accused of overseeing a corrupt and illegitimate government that has used its power to protect and promote illegal activities, including drug trafficking. Even his wife, Cilia Flores, will be appearing alongside him as a defendant against these charges.
Stay updated on this developing story by following The Agency on Twitter and Facebook. You can also receive daily push alerts straight to your device by signing up with us. We value your opinion, so don't forget to leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts. Additionally, add Metro as a preferred source on Google for the latest news updates. Thank you for choosing us as your source for reliable news.
