Venezuelan official Nicolas Maduro, currently detained in Brooklyn and facing federal drug trafficking charges, was recently photographed wearing a Casio watch valued at approximately $40. The image, released from the Metropolitan Detention Center, shows Maduro making a peace sign.
This appearance stands in stark contrast to the luxury Swiss timepieces Maduro was known to wear while in power. In December 2024, he was photographed wearing a limited-edition Hublot watch valued at $85,000. Earlier that year, he was seen with a $40,000 Swiss watch, reportedly a gift from Argentinian soccer star Diego Maradona.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested in January 2026 at their home in Caracas. They were subsequently brought to New York and indicted on charges alleging they used their leadership positions to facilitate the trafficking of thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States between 1999 and 2025. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Maduro's trial is scheduled to begin in June 2027. Shortly after his arrest, Maduro claimed to be destitute and suggested the Venezuelan government should cover his legal expenses. However, U.S. authorities stated last year that they had seized approximately $700 million in assets from Maduro, including properties such as a mansion in the Dominican Republic, a horse farm, and a luxury property in Florida.
Critics have long accused Maduro's administration of operating a patronage system that benefited elites while the general population experienced a decline in living standards and soaring inflation.