May 14, 2026, 7:05 a.mMay 14, 2026, 7:05 a.m
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According to his son, the former ruler of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, who is imprisoned in the USA, has to share a prison cell with 18 other prisoners. The US rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine was also briefly housed in the shared cell in a New York prison after violating his probation, said Nicolás Maduro Guerra, Maduro’s only son, in a “Spiegel” interview.
The Venezuelan head of state and his wife were arrested by US troops in the capital Caracas at the beginning of January and flown to New York. There they are accused, among other things, of “drug terrorism”. Maduro denies using his office to facilitate the smuggling of thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States. «My family has nothing to do with drugs or terrorists. “This is all a political process,” said his 35-year-old son, who is known as “Nicolasito.”
“Didn’t expect them to attack Caracas”
Despite increasing tensions with President Donald Trump’s administration before the US attack on January 3, the military operation was unexpected for the Maduro family and the Venezuelan government. “We didn’t expect them to attack Caracas,” said the son of the ousted president. At the same time, Venezuela overestimated its own strengths and did not do enough to protect its father.
Maduro’s son rejected Trump’s claim that the US had effectively taken over the reins of government in Venezuela following Maduro’s capture. “Everything that is happening at the moment is our own initiative: the amnesty law, the opening of the oil sector,” said Maduro Guerra. Venezuela still has a socialist state model, but now has to make concessions. Former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is currently in charge of the government in Caracas. (sda/dpa)
US attack on Venezuela
Video: Watson/Reuters