Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro returned to federal court in Manhattan to face criminal charges including narcoterrorism, a law that has rarely been tested at trial and has a mixed record of success. Prosecutors must prove that Maduro knowingly facilitated drug trafficking that financially benefited a group engaged in what the United States defines as terrorism. Maduro has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The narcoterrorism statute, enacted in 2006, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and has resulted in only a handful of trial convictions, with two later overturned due to credibility issues involving key witnesses. Legal experts say the most difficult element for prosecutors is demonstrating that a defendant had clear knowledge of a terrorism connection tied to drug activities.

Maduro is accused of leading a conspiracy that allowed cocaine shipments to pass through Venezuela in collaboration with Colombian rebels previously designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. He denies the allegations, calling them politically motivated. The case may rely heavily on testimony from former Venezuelan military officials who have pleaded guilty to related offenses, though it remains unclear whether they will cooperate.

The outcome of the trial could serve as a significant test of the narcoterrorism law and the government’s ability to secure convictions under its demanding standards of proof.