New York — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro told a US judge “I was captured” during his first appearance in a New York courtroom, pleading not guilty to narco-terrorism charges and declaring, “I am a decent man, the president of my country,” according to Associated Press.

Maduro, dressed in a blue jail uniform, appeared alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, who also pleaded not guilty to drug-related charges. The brief but mandatory arraignment is expected to mark the start of a prolonged legal fight over whether the Venezuelan leader can be tried in the United States.

The couple were led into the Manhattan courtroom around midday after being transported under armed guard from a Brooklyn detention facility, where they have been held since their arrest. The hearing focused on procedural matters, with further court dates expected as the case moves forward.

US prosecutors allege Maduro and Flores were involved in international drug trafficking, accusations the pair strongly deny. The case is likely to raise complex legal and diplomatic questions, including jurisdiction and immunity, as proceedings continue.