Inside the Brooklyn jail housing Maduro

Ousted Venezuelan president Nicol‡s Maduro is facing a legal battle
that could take years as he awaits trial for narcoterrorism offences
in one of the worst prisons in New York

METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTRE, BROOKLYN

Maduro (left)
captured by
U.S. troops
on Jan 3,
2026

Founded: 1994

Inmates: About
1,300 men and
women

Jail previously described by judges and lawyers
as ̉hell on earthÓ has history of power outages,
staffing shortages and detainee complaints 

MDC Brooklyn
New
York
New
Jersey
Long
Island
Atlantic Ocean
10km
6 miles

PRISON CONDITIONS

Maduro and his wife,
Cilia Flores, are likely
segregated from other
inmates, in separate,
solitary cells

Inmate: Spends
up to 23 hours a day
locked in, with meals
delivered to cell

Exercise: One
hour a day in small
caged area

Health visits: Daily

Shower: Access
three times a week

Legal provisions
Daily scheduled time
with lawyer. Limited
access to phone calls

Cell size
Approx.
2m x 3m

Steel
door

Mirror, sink, toilet
Stainless steel

Fixed desk

Security
camera

Steel-
framed bed
Wool blanket
and thin mattress

Small
window

Sources: CNN, El Pa’s, Newsroom Panama
Pictures: Getty Images
© GRAPHIC NEWS