While the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was shocking, what may be even more of a surprise is that his wife, Cilia Flores, was also apprehended by the United States operatives. She’s currently being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
The United States Department of Justice is charging Flores with conspiracy to import cocaine, conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Her husband, Maduro, faces an additional charge of narco-terrorism. The couple has been married for 12 years.
While some might not realize it initially, Flores was not an innocent party in her husband’s business dealings. The couple reportedly met while working with Hugo Chavez, Maduro’s predecessor, and it’s said that Flores was really the person behind the curtain and pulling the strings in Maduro’s Presidency. Flores also held the official title of head of intelligence in Venezuela at one point during her career. She’s been nicknamed Latin Lady Macbeth and First Warrior. She also refers to herself as a “combatant.”
According to Flores’s legal representative, Flores sustained substantial injuries when U.S. forces raided the compound in Caracas and arrested her. The raid also reportedly took the lives of many within the couple’s protection squad. Flores appeared in court with bandages over her face and complained of bruising on her ribs.
She pleaded not guilty to all the charges against her.
A Dramatic and Questionable Capture
If you ever find yourself facing criminal charges in a foreign country, then it’s crucial that you quickly hire a global lawyer to represent you. In the average situation, the U.S. Department of Justice would file an indictment, and the individual would be arrested by the law enforcement agents in the foreign country. From there, the person would face an extradition hearing. If the court agrees to extradite the suspect, then they would be transferred to the U.S. to face justice.
In Flores’s case, she was essentially seized and captured by U.S. operatives and brought to the U.S. Some individuals have questioned the legitimacy of the capture, but the U.S. Attorney General has claimed that the president’s Article II powers allowed for the operation to take place.
What’s more, the U.S. doesn’t recognize Maduro as the legitimate ruler of Venezuela, so it wouldn’t be considered a valid legal argument for him or his wife to claim sovereign immunity.
It’s highly likely that all of these challenges will come up in court throughout the couple’s future hearings.
One key advantage of facing charges in America is that accused individuals have the right to hire legal counsel.
Are you currently facing criminal charges in New York or a nearby area? If so, then our legal team here at the Bukh Law Firm can help. We’re available to assist with federal charges, drug crimes, misdemeanors, violent crimes, sex crimes, and more.
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