Nicolás Maduro Shares Photos from Brooklyn Detention Center

Nicolás Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan President, appeared in photos shared on social media, providing the first known images of him inside a New York prison since U.S. forces captured him in January. Maduro has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn for eight months, facing charges of drug trafficking.

In the photos, posted to Maduro’s X account, he wears a gray sweatsuit with white sneakers and looks noticeably thinner. He stood against a plain wall, offering these images as a gift to his family and supporters. Maduro expressed determination and conveyed hope, stating, “we will remain strong, serene, and confident” and “Venezuela will be reborn.”

“I send these photos as a small gift to all my grandsons and granddaughters, to the boys and girls, and to all the noble people who love us,” Maduro said. “I want you to know that we stand firm, with our hearts full of your love, that love that reaches us transformed into prayer, into constant action, into solidarity and true support. Infinite thanks for every word, for every gesture, for every blessing.”

Photos showed Maduro smiling broadly, appearing thinner. The timestamps on the images indicate they were taken on June 25, a day after earthquakes in Venezuela killed over 6,500 people near Caracas.

The release of the photos follows President Donald Trump’s announcement of a significant breakthrough in U.S.-Venezuela relations. Venezuela agreed to grant the U.S. majority control over 65 billion barrels of oil from its reserves, impacting the American oil market amidst rising gas prices due to the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Maduro, captured during a military operation in Caracas in January, reportedly spends much of his time reading the Bible, according to his son Nicolás Maduro Guerra, who shared these details with El País in May. Maduro reportedly has 510 minutes monthly, equal to 8.5 hours, for external communications.

Maduro and his wife face trial in New York in June 2027, pleading not guilty to charges of conspiracy to send cocaine into the U.S. They face potential life sentences if found guilty.