Venezuela's Maduro asserts immunity, urges US judge to dismiss charges - Reuters

Nicolás Maduro, the ousted president of Venezuela, has asked a U.S. federal judge to dismiss criminal drug‑trafficking charges that have been filed against him. The request was submitted on Wednesday, September 2, and is part of an ongoing legal proceeding in a New York court.

Maduro’s filing argues that, as the former head of a sovereign nation, he is entitled to immunity from prosecution in the United States. The claim of sovereign immunity is presented as the legal basis for seeking dismissal of the indictment, which alleges involvement in illicit drug activities.

The indictment, which was unsealed earlier this year, accuses Maduro of participating in a conspiracy to import and distribute controlled substances into the United States. U.S. prosecutors have indicated that the case will proceed unless the court finds the immunity argument persuasive.

In addition to the legal filing, Maduro has asserted that he was abducted by U.S. forces during a military operation in Caracas in January. The claim, made in the same submission, has not been independently verified and was not referenced in other reports of the case.

The U.S. Department of Justice has not yet responded to the request for dismissal, and the judge has not issued a ruling on the immunity claim. The matter remains pending, and the outcome will determine whether the criminal charges proceed to trial.