Maduro Detained in Notorious Brooklyn Jail

The jail housing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is widely regarded as one of the most infamous detention centers in the United States.

Operating since the early 1990s, the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) Brooklyn currently accommodates around 1,300 inmates. This facility typically serves as the initial holding site for individuals awaiting trial in New York’s federal courts, including those implicated in serious offenses like drug trafficking and financial fraud.

Following Maduro’s apprehension, Venezuelan expatriates gathered outside the facility, waving flags in support as a convoy believed to be carrying Maduro and his spouse arrived late Saturday evening.

MDC Brooklyn has a history of housing several high-profile detainees, including music artists R. Kelly and Sean “Diddy” Combs, crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried, and Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein.

Maduro is not the first former head of state to be detained at this location. Juan Orlando Hernández, the former leader of Honduras, faced similar circumstances while dealing with U.S. drug trafficking charges, eventually leading to a conviction and a 45-year sentence, which was later pardoned by former President Donald Trump.

Despite its proximity to a shopping mall and visibility from the Statue of Liberty, this jail has garnered a notorious reputation. Legal representatives and inmates alike describe conditions as unsafe and fraught with violence and neglect. In 2024, two inmates lost their lives within these walls, and several staff members faced corruption allegations.

One particularly alarming incident occurred in 2019 when a prolonged power outage left inmates without heating or lighting during winter for nearly a week.

In light of escalating criticism, the Federal Bureau of Prisons asserts that conditions have seen improvements. Authorities claim to have bolstered staffing, rectified numerous maintenance issues, upgraded utilities, and decreased the inmate population, contributing to a reduction in crime and contraband within the facility.

Nonetheless, continuing concerns linger.

While in custody, Maduro may encounter familiar faces, including Hugo Carvajal, a former Venezuelan intelligence chief turned collaborator with U.S. authorities. Other inmates may include alleged associates of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang, which has been implicated in violent acts throughout the U.S.

Since 2021, the facility has drawn increased scrutiny, especially following the closure of another New York federal detention center after Jeffrey Epstein’s death, prompting serious questions about safety and oversight in federal prisons.