Maduro to appear in New York court on Jan. 5

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, detained by U.S. forces, is expected to formally face charges in a New York court on January 5, The Washington Post reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

The hearing is scheduled to take place at a federal district court in Lower Manhattan at noon local time (2100 Baku time). The case will be overseen by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein.

The United States has long accused Maduro of involvement in international drug trafficking, links to armed groups and crimes against U.S. security.

Washington does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader and has imposed sweeping sanctions on Caracas. The Venezuelan government has rejected the accusations as politically motivated.