In a historic and stunning escalation of geopolitical tensions, United States President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, January 3, 2026, that American special forces have successfully captured and extracted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The mission, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, was revealed through a series of posts on Truth Social, including a dramatic photograph of the deposed president in handcuffs and a blindfold aboard a U.S. Navy vessel.
The capture followed a massive, pre-dawn military operation involving more than 150 aircraft and elite “snatch squads.” According to White House officials, U.S. forces targeted Maduro’s fortified residence at Fuerte Tiuna, the nation’s largest military complex. The assault was so precise that it reportedly knocked out electricity across parts of Caracas to provide cover for the ground team.
Within thirty minutes of the initial breach, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized and flown by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima.By Saturday evening, Maduro had landed in New York City to face federal charges in the Southern District of New York. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the Venezuelan leader is being held on a sweeping indictment for narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and weapons-related offenses. Prosecutors allege that Maduro spearheaded the “Cartel of the Suns,” using his control over the Venezuelan state to flood the United States with illegal drugs.
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This legal action marks the culmination of years of sanctions and a $15 million bounty previously placed on his head.In the wake of the extraction, President Trump held a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, declaring that the United States will temporarily “run” Venezuela to ensure a stable transition. He emphasized a desire to “get the oil flowing” again through U.S. energy companies, though he provided few details on the long-term governance of the country.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday, as world leaders remain deeply divided over the legality of the unilateral military intervention.In Caracas, the Venezuelan Supreme Court has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of acting president, while pro-regime forces have declared a state of emergency. As the city remains on edge, many residents are waiting to see if this “regime-change effort” leads to a new democratic era or plunges the region into further instability. For now, the world watches New York, where one of Latin America’s longest-serving strongmen now awaits trial in a federal detention center.
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