President Maduro's lawyer is seeking the dismissal of charges against his client, claiming that US government actions have denied Maduro the right to legal counsel of choice by blocking defence funds.

Nicolas Maduro's lawyer has accused US authorities of preventing the Venezuelan government from paying for the former president's legal defense in a New York court filing.

Maduro, who autocratically ruled Venezuela from March 2013, was ousted as president in a January 3 raid by the United States.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both pleaded not guilty on January 5 to drug trafficking charges that could land them in a US prison for decades. They are jailed in New York awaiting trial.

Lawyers for Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro claim the U.S. is blocking the Venezuelan government from paying for his drug defense.

Nicolás Maduro's lawyer has accused US authorities of blocking payments for his defense from Venezuelan authorities, according to a document released in New York.