Overview
- U.S. special operations under “Operation Absolute Resolve” detained President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores in Caracas and transferred them to U.S. custody.
- Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York unsealed charges alleging narco‑terrorism and a conspiracy to import cocaine against Maduro and multiple associates.
- Vice President JD Vance argued that cocaine revenues sustain Latin American cartels, claimed some fentanyl had come from Venezuela, and cited Venezuela’s past expropriation of American oil assets.
- Trump said Washington would temporarily run the country during a transition and indicated U.S. companies would move to repair or manage Venezuela’s oil infrastructure.
- The New York Times reported at least 40 deaths in the operation, and experts and CDC data highlight that U.S. overdose deaths are driven largely by fentanyl produced in Mexico with chemicals from China.