Cilia Flores
Former Venezuelan lawmaker and first lady, wife of Nicolás Maduro; charged in New York and held in Brooklyn awaiting tri
Latest · Prosecutors oppose Cilia Flores's bid for house arrest
Next date · Defense reply on house arrest due the case →
Newest first: what Cilia Flores said, the stories about them and the U.S. court filings, each with its video or document.
Where is Cilia Flores?
As of September 25, 2026, Cilia Flores remains held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York, awaiting trial before federal judge Alvin Hellerstein. Source
What is Cilia Flores charged with?
As of September 25, 2026, the Southern District of New York indictment charges her with cocaine importation conspiracy and two counts of possessing and conspiring to possess machineguns and destructive devices. It alleges that in 2007 she accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to broker a meeting between a drug trafficker and the head of Venezuela's National Anti-Drug Office; she has pleaded not guilty. Source
Will Cilia Flores be released to house arrest?
As of September 25, 2026 there is no ruling. Her defense asked on September 9 for her release to strict house arrest citing heart problems, and prosecutors opposed it in a September 23 filing citing an 'extreme risk of flight', according to Runrunes and CNN en Español. Source
When is Cilia Flores's next hearing?
As of September 25, 2026, Judge Hellerstein set the hearing on her house-arrest request for October 8, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, according to Efecto Cocuyo and NTN24. Source
When is the trial of Cilia Flores and Nicolás Maduro?
As of September 25, 2026, the joint trial of Cilia Flores and Nicolás Maduro is set to begin June 1, 2027 in New York, a date Judge Hellerstein set at the July 22, 2026 hearing. Source
What do prosecutors say about Cilia Flores?
As of September 25, 2026, in their September 23 filing prosecutors called the evidence against her 'overwhelming', said they will bring cooperating witnesses who dealt directly with her to trial, and argued she poses an 'extreme risk of flight', according to NTN24 and Runrunes. Source
How was Cilia Flores arrested?
As of September 25, 2026, she was captured with Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026 in Caracas during a U.S. military operation and flown to New York, where she pleaded not guilty on January 5, according to NPR and Efecto Cocuyo. Source
Are Cilia Flores's medical records public?
No. As of September 25, 2026, the judge approved on September 10 keeping under seal the exhibit with her medical records filed with the house-arrest request. Source
Who is Cilia Flores?
As of September 25, 2026, Cilia Flores is a Venezuelan lawyer and politician, married to Nicolás Maduro since 2013. She was the first woman to preside over the National Assembly (2006-2011), attorney general (2012-2013) and a lawmaker elected in 2021, according to Al Jazeera and CNN. Source
Can I write a letter to Cilia Flores?
Yes. As of September 25, 2026, while she is held in the United States, you can send her a letter through our service at escribeleacilita.com. Source
The story so far
Oldest first · Born 1956, Tinaquillo, Cojedes, Venezuela- Becomes the first woman to preside over Venezuela's National Assembly. source
- Marries Nicolás Maduro. source
- The U.S. Treasury (OFAC) adds her to its sanctions list. source
- Captured with Nicolás Maduro in Caracas during a U.S. military operation and flown to New York. source
- Pleads not guilty before Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan. source
- The judge sets the joint trial with Maduro to begin June 1, 2027. source
- Her defense asks for her release to house arrest citing heart problems. source
- The judge approves keeping her medical records under seal. source
- Prosecutors oppose house arrest and call the evidence 'overwhelming'. source
- Scheduled hearing on the house-arrest request, 10:30 a.m. Eastern. source