Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been captured by U.S. forces and transported to the United States, with his expected arrival at a New York–area airport confirmed by multiple officials briefed on the operation. Upon landing, Maduro is slated to be moved by helicopter to a secure processing facility in New York City, before being formally transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center. Court proceedings are anticipated as early as Monday evening, setting the stage for one of the most high-profile legal cases involving a foreign leader in recent U.S. history.
President Donald Trump described the pre-dawn operation as "a brilliant operation," highlighting its strategic planning and execution. He lauded the troops involved as "great people" and emphasized the coordination that went into the mission targeting Caracas and surrounding areas. Eyewitnesses in Venezuela reported a series of explosions coinciding with the operation, underscoring the scale and precision of the strike.
Trump confirmed that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown out of Venezuela and taken into custody by U.S. forces. Through social media, he described the mission as a "large-scale strike against Venezuela" and promised additional details during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The operation has already drawn significant global attention due to its audacity and potential geopolitical ramifications.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Maduro and Flores will face criminal charges in the United States under a 2020 New York indictment. She stressed that they will soon face "the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts," signaling that the case will be pursued rigorously through the U.S. legal system.
According to CBS News, the elite Delta Force unit, previously involved in high-profile operations such as the 2019 mission that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, executed the capture. Their involvement emphasizes the operational complexity and significance of the mission. Analysts note that this capture represents one of the most consequential U.S. military actions in Latin America in decades.
The detention of Maduro marks a dramatic escalation in U.S.-Venezuela relations, with potential repercussions across the region. International observers are closely tracking how this event might affect Venezuelan governance, political stability, and ongoing diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Latin American countries. The operation also raises questions about regional security, the reaction of neighboring nations, and the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere.
In addition to the immediate legal and political consequences, Maduro’s capture is likely to influence public opinion both domestically and internationally. Analysts predict that this event could alter the trajectory of Venezuela’s political landscape, impact opposition movements, and redefine the balance of power in Latin America. With global eyes focused on New York, the coming days are expected to provide crucial insight into how U.S. authorities will manage the complex legal, diplomatic, and security challenges arising from this unprecedented capture.
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