Amid global outcry, the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been captured by United States forces and are being flown to New York City.
The United States federal authorities say they will be processed and held pending trial on criminal charges, according to multiple news outlets and official U.S. statements.
The dramatic announcement came late Saturday via U.S. officials and was reported by ABC News, which cited sources saying Maduro “will be processed at a federal prison in Manhattan” following his arrival.
This marks a historic dark moment, as Maduro is the first sitting Latin American head of state to be removed from power and brought to the United States to face U.S. federal charges.
According to U.S. President Donald Trump and senior administration figures, American forces conducted a covert military and law-enforcement operation in Venezuela early Saturday morning.
The operation involved air strikes and ground maneuvers in and around the Venezuelan capital Caracas, where explosions and aircraft activity were witnessed.In a message posted on social media, Trump said Maduro and Flores were captured and flown out of the country in collaboration with U.S. law enforcement agencies.
The exact logistics of the transfer, including flight path, time of arrival, and security arrangements, have not been publicly disclosed by U.S. officials.
Maduro has been the subject of a long-standing U.S. indictment.
He was federally charged in 2020 in the Southern District of New York on charges related to narco-terrorism conspiracy, drug trafficking, and associated offenses, allegations the Venezuelan leader has repeatedly denied.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Justice Department officials have stated the case will proceed through the U.S. federal judicial system, with Maduro and Flores expected to be processed and held in federal custody in Manhattan pending trial.
The involvement of U.S. law enforcement, rather than only military authorities, underscores that the situation is being treated as both a security operation and a criminal prosecution against foreign leaders under U.S. law.
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