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Maduro's Wife Seeks Early Release From US Custody Over Health Concerns

Cilia Flores, wife of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, has petitioned for her release from a Brooklyn detention facility, citing serious heart problems. The couple has been in US custody since their capture in early January.

LSN India · 10 September 2026

Cilia Flores, 69, has filed a request for early release from a Brooklyn correctional facility where she is being held on health grounds. According to legal filings, Flores is suffering from cardiac complications that require ongoing medical attention and have been exacerbated by her detention.

Flores and her husband, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, 63, were apprehended during a covert operation in early January when US forces conducted a raid on their residence in Caracas. The pair were subsequently transferred to New York, where they remain in federal custody.

The request marks the first formal petition for conditional release from either detainee since their arrest. Legal representatives argue that Flores's medical condition warrants compassionate consideration under applicable detention policies. The petition has been submitted to federal authorities in Brooklyn for review and adjudication.

The arrests represent a significant escalation in US-Venezuela relations and relate to longstanding allegations against the Maduro administration. Both remain in federal custody pending further legal proceedings.