First photos of Nicolas Maduro from US detention released

2 hours ago

First photos of Nicolas Maduro from US prison released

The first photos of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from inside a US prison have been released. He has been held at a federal facility in Brooklyn, New York, since he was extradited from Venezuela in January, Al Jazeera reported.

The photos show Maduro in a gray tracksuit and making a "V" sign with both hands. The former president appears to have lost a significant amount of weight since his arrest.

Maduro posted the photos on his X and Telegram accounts on Sunday. He wrote in Spanish: "I am sending these photos as a small gift to all my grandchildren, to all my sons and daughters and to all the good people who love us."

He also stressed that he will stand firm and trust in God to guide him. "I want you to know that we stand firm, our hearts are full of your love. We remain strong, calm and confident. The Creator is with us, he will show the way. Venezuela will rise again," Maduro added.

The timestamps on the photos indicate that they were taken on June 25, the day after the 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude earthquakes that killed more than 6,500 people and caused great destruction in northern Venezuela.

AFP has tried to contact the prison to verify the authenticity of the photos and whether they were authorized by the prison administration to publish them. The agency has not yet received a response.

Maduro's message comes two days after his successor, Delcy Rodriguez, announced a historic oil deal with the United States. The deal allows US companies to operate in Venezuelan oil fields.

The former president is not allowed to use newspapers or the internet while in prison. However, he is allowed to talk to his family and lawyers by phone for about 300 minutes a month. Each call should not exceed 15 minutes.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are accused of drug trafficking and weapons possession in the US. They deny the charges. According to a US federal court, the trial of Maduro and Flores is expected to begin on June 1, 2027.