Criminal networks including Tren de Aragua cartel and ELN guerrillas exploit power vacuum in Venezuela after former President Nicolás Maduro's arrest, threatening transition efforts.

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife appeared before a judge in New York to face charges related to drug trafficking after the U.S. military attack on Venezuela.

Barry Pollack is an experienced trial attorney who previously represented the controversial WikiLeaks founder and an Enron executive accused of fraud.

NEW YORK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to narcotics charges after President Donald Trump's stunning capture of him rattled world leaders and left officials in Caracas scrambling to regroup.

Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are scheduled to make their initial appearances in Manhattan federal court on Monday.

After apparent months of planning, the U.S. strike that resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro unfolded swiftly over the weekend, with American forces converging on Caracas to arrest Maduro and his wife.

Maduro's arrest and indictment echo a case the U.S. brought more than 30 years ago against Panama's leader, Manuel Noriega.