Cilia Flores, wife of the ousted president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, requested Wednesday permission from the New York judicial system to serve house arrest due to heart problems. She has been detained in the United States since December 2023, when she was extradited from Haiti to stand trial on drug trafficking-related charges.
Flores faces charges of involvement in drug trafficking operations that allegedly occurred during her husband's tenure as president of Venezuela. The defense argues that the former first lady's health conditions justify her transfer to house arrest, where she could receive adequate medical treatment for her heart condition.
The request was filed with the federal court in Manhattan, which will now review Maduro's wife's petition. This case is part of a broader context of political tensions between the United States and Venezuela, with several members of Maduro's inner circle facing American legal proceedings.
Cilia Flores's trial continues in New York as she awaits the decision on her house arrest request. The case has attracted international attention due to her husband's figure, who remains in power in Venezuela despite having lost the July 2024 presidential election, according to opposition results never recognized by the regime.
