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yesterday

U.S. Says It Captured Maduro in Venezuela Strikes, Will Prosecute Him in New York

Washington frames the cross‑border action as law enforcement leading to a New York trial on narco‑terror, cocaine importation, plus weapons counts.

Nicolás Maduro speaks during a military ceremony commemorating the 200th anniversary of the presentation of the 'Sword of Peru' to Venezuelan independence hero Simón Bolívar on November 25, 2025, in Caracas, Venezuela.
A photograph which U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social account shows what he describes as Venezuelan President "Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima" amphibious assault ship, currently in the Caribbean Sea January 3, 2026.
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Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores face multiple charges in New York

Overview

  • Attorney General Pam Bondi announced indictments in the Southern District of New York and said Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores will face the “full wrath of American justice” on narco‑terror, cocaine importation, and weapons charges.
  • President Donald Trump said a large‑scale strike enabled the seizure of the couple and that they were flown out of Venezuela, while U.S. media, citing unnamed sources, reported CIA targeting and an Army Delta Force operation.
  • Venezuelan officials said they do not know the pair’s whereabouts and demanded proof of life after explosions were reported in Caracas and nearby states during the overnight strikes.
  • Russia condemned the action as armed aggression and backed calls for a U.N. Security Council session, as regional leaders weighed fallout including potential refugee movements and aviation warnings.
  • Questions over legal authority surfaced in Washington, with some lawmakers seeking clarity on war powers as allies of the administration said no further military action is anticipated now that Maduro is in U.S. custody.