Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, captured during the US military operation Operation Absolute Resolve, is now detained at New York’s infamous Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. The prison has earned a notorious reputation for its harsh conditions and has previously housed high-profile figures such as Sean “Diddy” Combs, Ghislaine Maxwell, and cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York and were transported to NYC late last night. He is expected to make his first appearance in a Manhattan federal court on January 5.
The Brooklyn MDC is infamous for overcrowding, infrastructure deficiencies, systemic violence, and staff misconduct. Inmates live in a dormitory-style setting, with steel-framed beds placed less than a foot apart. Basic facilities include board games, air hockey, a gym, and tablets for entertainment, but mattresses are thin, pillows are absent, and shower privacy is minimal.
Former inmates, including Maxwell, have described the jail as plagued by rat infestations, foul odors, and frequent disruptions by guards, calling it a “hell on earth” due to the degrading and harsh conditions. Maduro joins a population of approximately 1,600 inmates, including convicts, cartel leaders, and other celebrities, at the highly fortified federal facility.