Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

Venezuela and President Nicola Maduro and First Lady Celia Flores have pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking weapons and other charges in the United States.

At their arraignment in New York City today, Maduro said he and his wife were prisoners of war,

kidnapped at their home two days ago

during a U.S. military raid, and he sought to invoke protections under international law by

appealing to the Geneva Conventions. NPR's Jasmine Garz, reports of Venezuela and First Lady

appear to have sustained injuries. Her right eye looked a bit swollen. Her forehead

was bandaged and it was later revealed by the defense that she may have sustained a fracture

during the operation or at the very least severe bruising on her ribs and they requested an x-ray.

That's NPR's Jasmine Garst reporting.

Some oil industry analysts are weighing in about President Trump's decision to arrest Mavudo

and his wife.

Trump has made it clear that part of the U.S. operation is about control of Venezuela's oil.

NPR's Julius Simon has more on Venezuelan oil deposits. Venezuela has massive oil resources and U.S. oil companies first started

drilling there a century ago. But around 2007, then President Hugo Chavez forcibly renegotiated

oil contracts. ExxonMobil and Conoco

Phillips left and took Venezuela to court. The courts ordered Venezuela pay the companies over

$11 billion combined. Oil experts tell NPR that for some oil companies, coming back, could be a way

to recoup money owed. Next door to Venezuela is Guyana,

a key emerging oil player with a big ExxonMobil presence. For years, Guyana and Venezuela have had

territorial disputes, also related to oil. Oil experts tell NPR with President Maduro gone,

U.S. oil investments in Guyana are more secure.

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