GUIDE
Where is Nicolás Maduro being held? What is known
As of September 20, 2026, drawn from public reporting. Court dates move; this page is revised when they do.
Where he is
Nicolás Maduro has been in U.S. federal custody since January 3, 2026 and, according to press reports, is held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York. He was arraigned in the Southern District of New York on January 5, 2026 and pleaded not guilty.
The charges
They include narco-terrorism conspiracy and conspiracy to import cocaine, in the case the Southern District of New York had been building before his detention. His defense has signaled it will argue head-of-state immunity and challenge the legality of the capture itself.
The calendar
Public reporting points to a court date set for November 17, 2026 and a trial scheduled for June 1, 2027. Separately, Argentina filed a formal extradition request in February 2026 on crimes-against-humanity charges, still unresolved.
Cilia Flores
Cilia Flores was detained the same day and faces related charges in the same case. In September 2026 her lawyers asked the judge to replace detention with home confinement, citing cardiac episodes documented in court filings; prosecutors opposed it. No ruling had been reported as of September 20, 2026.
Diosdado Cabello and Vladimir Padrino López
Neither is in custody. Cabello remains in Venezuela and holds a government post; Padrino López was removed as Defense Minister in March 2026, and removed is not the same as detained. Both have open U.S. indictments and standing rewards — and nothing beyond that.
You can write to him
Incoming mail to a federal facility is open to anyone, and it is opened and read before delivery. What decides whether a letter gets through is format: full address with register number, plain white paper, nothing attached. The guide on sending a letter to a federal inmate covers it.
Common questions
- What prison is Maduro in?
- Per public reporting, the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York — a federal pre-trial detention facility.
- Can you write to someone detained there?
- Yes. Incoming mail is accepted if it follows the facility format: full legal name, federal register number, plain white paper, nothing attached.
- Is Diosdado Cabello in custody?
- No. As of September 20, 2026 he is not in any country's custody; he has open U.S. indictments, which is a different thing.
You can write to Diosdado now and we keep it, free, until there is a verified mailing address. Or post it on the public wall. Write it →