Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has released photographs online that appear to have been taken inside a United States detention centre, months after he was captured in a US military operation.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured during a night-time US military operation in January and subsequently taken to a detention facility in Brooklyn, New York.
The Trump administration has accused the pair of facilitating drug trafficking and firearms offences that allegedly harmed the United States. Both Maduro and Flores have denied the allegations.
In a post on X on Sunday, Maduro described the photographs as “a small gift” to his grandchildren and supporters, saying he remained “standing firm” despite his detention.
In the images, Maduro is seen wearing a grey tracksuit, white Nike running shoes and glasses. He is also pictured smiling and making peace signs.
Camera data attached to the photographs indicated that they were taken on June 25, a day after Venezuela was hit by two devastating earthquakes that reportedly killed more than 6,500 people, according to figures released by Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez.
The ABC reported that it confirmed the images were not generated using artificial intelligence but could not independently verify when or where they were taken.
It also remains unclear who took the photographs or how they were released from inside the US detention facility.
Maduro’s post came shortly after his successor, interim President Delcy Rodríguez, announced a 25-year oil agreement that will allow the United States to operate oil fields in Venezuela.
Rodríguez, who is governing under pressure from the Trump administration, said she had chosen diplomacy and wanted Venezuela to become an “energy powerhouse”. Under the agreement, Venezuela is expected to increase its oil production to 1.5 million barrels per day.
According to AFP, citing a source close to Maduro, the former president does not have access to newspapers or the internet while in detention. He is, however, allowed to communicate with his family and lawyers by telephone for about 500 minutes each month, with individual calls limited to 15 minutes.
His son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, has said his father is in good health and spends much of his time studying the Bible.
In his latest post, Maduro included a Bible passage attributed to the Apostle Paul about victory through those who love and support believers, alongside a message expressing confidence that “Venezuela will be reborn.”
Maduro and Flores are scheduled to face trial in the United States on June 1, 2027, according to a federal court in New York.
