U.S. President Donald Trump said Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured in a targeted operation in Venezuela and transferred to the United States. U.S. officials reported no American fatalities, though some personnel sustained injuries.
Maduro arrived at a detention facility in New York late Saturday and is expected to face federal charges related to alleged drug trafficking and links to criminal gangs designated as terrorist organizations—allegations he has long denied. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed a superseding indictment that builds on charges first filed in 2020.
Trump said the operation was intended to demonstrate that Washington would not tolerate defiance from hostile regimes. He added that the U.S. is prepared to carry out a “second wave” of strikes against any remaining Maduro loyalists if required.
While Trump indicated that American companies could play a significant role in rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, he offered no specifics on broader reconstruction efforts or a post-Maduro governance plan. The move has unsettled regional neighbors, raising concerns about the precedent set by direct U.S. military intervention.
In Caracas, reactions began to emerge from senior officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, as Venezuela braces for political uncertainty amid heightened international scrutiny.
