In a bold move, the United States has captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, flying them to New York to face criminal charges. President Donald Trump revealed the operation on social media, stating that Maduro had been seized and taken out of the country. Vice President J D Vance mentioned that warnings were issued to Maduro before the operation was authorized.
The operation, conducted in collaboration with US Law Enforcement, was announced by Trump, who also scheduled a news conference for further details. US media reported that Maduro and his wife were taken from their bedroom during the raid. Maduro, facing narcotics-related charges since 2020, is being transported to New York, where he has been indicted. Attorney General Pamela Bondi confirmed the indictments against Maduro and Flores in the Southern District of New York.
Maduro faces charges including Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy and Cocaine Importation Conspiracy. Bondi expressed gratitude to Trump for demanding accountability and commended the military for the successful capture. The development was hailed as a turning point for Venezuela by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. US prosecutors have long accused Maduro of leading criminal activities linked to cocaine trafficking, forming a significant part of Washington’s pressure tactics against Caracas.
