The former dictator of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges levied against him in a New York courtroom on Monday afternoon, the first step in his historic prosecution.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were arrested by U.S. authorities over the weekend in Caracas, made their first appearance in front of a judge in a perfunctory legal proceeding, which kicks off their respective court cases. They both pleaded not guilty to the charges.