Some details of the daily life of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife inside prison

(Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife)

A report reveals details of Maduro and his wife’s life inside prison

A CNN report revealed some details of the daily life of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, inside the prison where they are in Brooklyn, as they are about to appear before court for the second time on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption.

Since their arrest in a lightning operation and their transfer from Caracas to New York, Maduro and his wife have been detained at the MDC Urban Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, a prison known for its harsh conditions and in which prominent prisoners such as Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's company, and singer Diddy Combs have previously been held.

Maduro's son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, known as Nicolacito, tried to portray an optimistic picture of the life that his father and the First Lady of Venezuela lived inside the prison, saying that "his father's morale is high," and that he is "very strong and exercises daily," while he described Flores as "the first fighter" and "steadfast and vigilant," but life inside that prison is harsh.

Days of isolation

Maduro is likely to live under strict prison rules, with high-profile prisoners like him often isolated from the rest of the inmates for security reasons. “I expect Maduro will spend 23 hours a day in solitary confinement,” said Cameron Linsey, the former director of the facility, which means staying in a cell, no communication, meals served through a hatch, and limited, odd periods of individual recreation.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons did not specify where he is being held, but experts indicate that he is being held in the most restrictive special housing unit within the facility. 

Maduro will not be able to see his wife, as men and women are separated into different units, and the defendants in the same case are prevented from communicating to avoid any collusion or influence of witnesses.

Maduro can communicate with the outside world, but this is subject to strict rules and monitoring, and visits must be approved in advance, and phone calls are short and limited, and may be limited to one call every month, with free access to the Internet restricted.

Nicolasito attributed his father's weight loss to the discipline and exercises he practiced, but the quality of food at the center may be another explanation for that, according to the network. Lawyers have claimed for years that detainees are given expired, undercooked or contaminated food, including spoiled meat and deteriorating dairy products. The father's son claimed that his father exercises daily, and this scenario is possible, but within very strict limits.

According to Justice Department reports, under restricted conditions, detainees' movements are limited, and human interaction is minimal. In some cases, detainees are allowed out of their cells for up to one hour a day for entertainment, but these activities usually take place in closed spaces or tightly controlled areas, which some lawyers and detainees have described as “open cages.”

Prisoners resort to exercise to deal with stress, anxiety, and isolation in the absence of adequate medical and psychological care inside the prisons.

Brooklyn Prison houses more than 1,300 detainees, and is described as overcrowded, dark, and noisy, with reports of violence, the use of weapons, and assault incidents that threaten safety. 

Reports also indicate problems with heating and temperature control, difficulties in ensuring adequate medical care, and restrictions on visits and communication with lawyers during critical periods.

On Thursday, Maduro is expected to appear before the court as part of his effort to dismiss his indictment for drug trafficking against the backdrop of a legal dispute with political dimensions related to lawyers’ fees. Maduro's lawyers assert that the United States is violating their client's constitutional rights by preventing the use of Venezuelan government funds to cover his defense costs.