American special forces have detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a daring overnight raid on Caracas, transporting them to face drug trafficking indictments in New York.
President Donald Trump praised the mission as a decisive blow against the regime, confirming coordination with U.S. law enforcement and minimal American injuries but no fatalities. The couple now awaits trial in Brooklyn’s high-security detention centre following their arrival aboard the USS Iwo Jima.
Elite Delta Force operatives breached Maduro’s fortified residence at Fuerte Tiuna military complex after helicopters skimmed low over coastal waters, supported by drones and jets that neutralised air defences. Explosions lit up the capital around 2 A.M. local time, damaging La Guaira port but sparing PDVSA oil facilities, which report uninterrupted production. Trump shared footage of the subdued leader on Truth Social, later posting a White House clip captioned “Perp walked” showing DEA handlers.
A superseding indictment from New York’s Southern District accuses Maduro of heading the Cartel de los Soles, allegedly partnering with FARC dissidents to ship cocaine into the U.S. via Central America, plus firearms and explosives violations echoing a 2020 case. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi outlined the charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” she wrote on X.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement,” Trump posted early on Truth Social.
Trump described the planning as meticulous to The New York Times. “It was a brilliant operation, actually,” he said. He plans a post-raid press conference and has floated U.S. oversight of Venezuela’s oil-rich transition, with firms funding repairs to resume exports from the globe’s largest reserves.
“They’ll be heading to New York…They’re on a ship, and they’ll be heading into New York. The helicopter took them out,” the president told Fox and Friends Weekend, noting a weather-delayed launch after four days of waiting.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reposted his July 2025 statement. “Maduro is NOT the President of Venezuela and his regime is NOT the legitimate government. Maduro is the head of the Cartel de Los Soles, a narco-terror organization which has taken possession of a country. And he is under indictment for pushing drugs into the United States.”
Republican Senator Mike Lee, initially questioning its constitutionality, deemed it lawful self-defence under Article II after briefings from Rubio. Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau added that Maduro would “finally face justice for his crimes.”
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, now interim leader per Supreme Court order, decried a “barbaric kidnapping” on state TV, demanding proof of their survival. Maduro’s Facebook video claimed strikes hit Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira states, vowing failed U.S. grabs for oil and minerals amid mobilised defences.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado hailed “the time for freedom,” while her spokesperson stayed silent. Colombia’s Gustavo Petro called for OAS and UN emergency sessions; UN chief António Guterres warned of legal breaches. Democrats criticised absent congressional approval, as Republicans split on intervention.
Trump’s prior moves included a December tanker blockade and repeated threats, branding Maduro’s domain a narco-state after disputed 2025 polls. Since succeeding Hugo Chávez in 2013, Maduro has alleged U.S. oil grabs.