Since his arrest on January 3, 2026, Nicolás Maduro has been held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, where he's reportedly spending most of his time engrossed in religious and philosophical literature, including the Bible and the Quran. According to a report by the New York Times published on Sunday, the former Venezuelan leader has noticeably slimmed down since his incarceration.
Six anonymous sources, who are familiar with the former president’s situation but were not authorized to speak publicly, disclosed to the Times that Maduro's spiritual interest, which existed prior to his detention, has heightened during his imprisonment.
At 63, the ex-leader has also engaged in dialogues with prison chaplains, among them a Catholic priest and a rabbi.
Maduro had previously claimed a Sephardic Jewish heritage, describing his ancestors as migrants from the Dutch Antilles to Venezuela. However, sources close to him informed the NYT that he had shown no prior interest in Judaism until his capture.
His spiritual profile has always been eclectic: a practicing Catholic, he maintained a close relationship with a socialist-leaning priest, sought the support of Venezuela's evangelical community, and followed Hindu guru Sathya Sai Baba alongside his wife Cilia Flores and his successor Delcy Rodríguez.
Regarding his physical condition, two sources aware of his dietary habits told the NYT that the poor quality of the prison food has expedited his weight loss compared to the Paleo diet he followed before his arrest. The former president “has been noticeably thinner and has complained about the food in recent months,” according to these sources.
Maduro is housed in a unit of the detention facility that has previously accommodated other high-profile inmates, such as Sean Combs, Sam Bankman-Fried, and Luigi Mangione. The center, with a capacity for about 1,300 detainees, has been plagued by years of violence and staffing shortages.
The situation of Flores, aged 70, is described as more precarious. Court documents cited by the NYT reveal that the ex-dictator’s former wife, who was recovering from a hysterectomy at the time of her capture, has lost over 25 pounds (approximately 11 kilograms) and two teeth, and has been prescribed nitroglycerin for chest pains.
Flores spent three months in solitary confinement and was affected by pepper spray used to break up a fight among inmates. Her legal team believes she may have suffered a mild heart attack in July, although there's no official medical confirmation. She reportedly sleeps only three to four hours a day.
Her request for release was denied by Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, who passed away at 92 last month. Judge Analisa Torres has now taken over the case.
Both Maduro and Flores are facing charges of narcoterrorism conspiracy and cocaine trafficking, among other offenses, and have pleaded not guilty before the U.S. justice system. Their trial is set for June 2027.
Key Insights on Maduro and Flores' Legal Challenges
What charges are Maduro and Flores facing?
Both Maduro and Flores are charged with narcoterrorism conspiracy and cocaine trafficking, among other offenses.
When is Maduro and Flores' trial scheduled?
Their trial is scheduled for June 2027.
How has Maduro's imprisonment affected his spiritual interests?
Maduro's interest in spiritual and religious texts has intensified during his time in prison.
What impact has prison food had on Maduro's health?
The poor quality of prison food has contributed to Maduro's noticeable weight loss since his incarceration.