Former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro appears in New York court after January capture

Donald Trump says former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro could be hit with more charges, as the captured leader and his wife returned to a New York courtroom for the first time since January.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Thursday morning, local time, the US president said the federal government would bring additional cases against Mr Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

The pair were captured by US forces during a raid in Venezuela in January, and currently face narco-terrorism and narcotics-related charges in New York.

The hearing on Thursday opened with the defence and prosecution arguing over whether Mr Maduro should be allowed to use Venezuelan government funds to pay for his defence.

His defence lawyers say that the US is violating the deposed leader's constitutional rights by blocking government money from being used for his legal costs.

Mr Maduro's lawyer Barry Pollack contended that if the former Venezuelan president got public defenders, investigating and preparing his case would sap legal resources meant for people who can't afford their own attorneys, and that doesn't make sense in "a case where you have someone other than the US taxpayer standing ready, willing and able to fund that defence."

Prosecutor Kyle Wirshba argued against letting Mr Maduro use Venezuelan government funds.

"This is a unique case that has not come before the judiciary before," he said, casting it as an issue of the US government's ability to use sanctions to advance national security and foreign policy interests.

Pair face life in prison if convicted

The hearing is the first time Mr Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been in court since a January arraignment at which he protested their capture by US military forces and declared: "I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country."

Ms Flores has also pleaded not guilty.

Mr Maduro and Ms Flores sat at the defence table between their lawyers, wearing jail uniforms and headphones to listen to the translation.

They are also accused of ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders of those who owed them drug money or undermined their trafficking operation.

That included the killing of a drug boss in Caracas, the indictment said. If convicted, they face life in prison.

Both have remained jailed at a detention centre in the New York borough of Brooklyn, and neither has asked to be released on bail.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein has yet to set a trial date, though that could happen at the hearing.

Rallies held before court hearing

Groups of demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse to rally both in favour of and against Mr Maduro.

In a noisy scene, protesters and supporters chanted, blew horns and beat drums and cowbells.

Among the anti-Maduro contingent, one person waved a sign reading "Maduro rot in prison." On the other side of a metal barrier, people held signs reading "Free President Maduro."

In the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Thursday morning, local time, a couple hundred people gathered at a public plaza including ruling party supporters, state employees and civilian militia members.

One of the attendees, retiree Eduardo Cubillan, said he was there to pray for Mr Maduro and Ms Flores and condemn the violation of Venezuela's sovereignty during the January 3 operation.

"We hope that in the United States, if justice truly exists, a trial will be held that will lead to President Maduro's freedom, because this kidnapping violated international legal principles, and we want justice to be served," Mr Cubillan, 80, said.

Mr Maduro, 63, and Ms Flores, 69, continue to enjoy some support in Venezuela, with murals and billboards across the capital, Caracas, demanding their return.

While Mr Maduro's ruling party remains in power, he has slowly been erased from the government of Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's acting president.

AP