A U.S. federal judge has scheduled June 2027 as the trial date for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces U.S. criminal charges related to narcotics trafficking and other alleged offences.
The judge set the trial timetable during a court hearing, marking the next major step in a long-running U.S. criminal case against Maduro. U.S. prosecutors accuse the Venezuelan leader of participating in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine into the United States, allegations that Maduro has consistently denied.
The case follows Maduro’s transfer to U.S. custody after years of diplomatic and legal disputes. His lawyers have rejected the charges, arguing that the prosecution is politically motivated and challenging the legal basis of the case.
U.S. authorities have maintained that the evidence supports the charges and said they intend to pursue the prosecution through trial. Prosecutors allege Maduro worked with associates to facilitate large scale drug trafficking operations over several years.
The proceedings are expected to draw significant international attention because Maduro remains one of Latin America’s most prominent political figures. Analysts said the trial could have implications for U.S.-Venezuela relations and broader regional diplomacy.
Maduro’s defence team is expected to file additional pretrial motions before the case proceeds to trial in June 2027.
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