Last Updated on January 3, 2026 4:35 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
WEB DESK
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been captured and flown out of the country following a large-scale US military operation targeting the capital, Caracas, according to an announcement by US President Donald Trump. The operation, described as a coordinated action involving US law enforcement, reportedly culminated in Maduro’s arrest and his transfer to the United States, where he is expected to stand trial.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed a Republican senator that Maduro would face criminal proceedings in the US, stemming from longstanding charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism. The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Maduro of leading a criminal network and has sought his prosecution through the US judicial system for several years.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government was unaware of the current whereabouts of President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. She condemned the US strikes, stating that the attacks resulted in the deaths of government officials, military personnel, and civilians across multiple parts of the country. Caracas and other regions reportedly suffered significant damage during the assault.
Journalists on the ground described a series of powerful explosions in the Venezuelan capital during the early hours of Saturday. A CNN team reported that several neighborhoods were left without electricity following the strikes, with the first explosion recorded around 1:50 a.m. local time. The scale of the attack suggested a highly targeted but forceful operation aimed at securing Maduro’s arrest.
Maduro has been under US indictment since 2020, when prosecutors in the Southern District of New York charged him with “narco-terrorism,” conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and related offenses. During Trump’s first term, Washington announced a $15 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest. That bounty was later raised to $25 million and subsequently increased to $50 million in August 2025, after Trump returned to office and designated the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. US officials allege Maduro is the leader of the group.
President Trump confirmed the arrest in a social media post, stating that Maduro had been captured in coordination with US authorities, with further details to be released later. Republican Senator Mike Lee said Rubio told him the military action was carried out to protect personnel executing the arrest warrant.