In a stunning escalation of tensions, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were forcibly extracted from their bedroom in a night-time raid carried out by elite United States forces. The operation, which involved explosions in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, culminated in the couple being flown to the US to face serious criminal charges.
The Daring Capture Operation
The dramatic events unfolded in the early hours of Saturday morning, startling residents of Caracas with the sound of explosions. According to ruling party leader Nahum Fernández, the target was the presidential residence at the Fort Tiuna military installation. He has labelled the action a "kidnapping" of the country's leader and first lady.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the operation, stating it "was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement." The mission was executed by the military's elite Delta Force, a unit with a history of high-profile operations including the hunt for Osama Bin Laden and the raid on ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
President Trump praised the mission as a "brilliant operation," telling the New York Times it was the result of "a lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops." The current whereabouts of Maduro and his wife after being flown out of Venezuela have not been publicly disclosed.
Charges and the Path to Capture
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Maduro and Flores will be indicted in the Southern District of New York. The charges are severe, encompassing narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offences related to machine guns and destructive devices.
This action follows years of US accusations against Maduro's administration. In 2020, the Trump administration indicted him, labelling him a major narcotrafficker. The pursuit intensified in August 2025 when the US Department of Justice issued a $50 million reward for his arrest. Recent months have seen US strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific, with the administration declaring an "armed conflict" against drug cartels.
US Vice President JD Vance stated on social media that the capture demonstrated President Trump "means what he says," citing demands for an end to drug trafficking and the return of "stolen oil" to the United States.
Maduro's Controversial Rule and What Comes Next
Nicolás Maduro's presidency, which began in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chávez, has been marked by deep economic crisis, widespread protests, and allegations of authoritarianism. His re-election in 2019 and again in 2024 was met with international condemnation and claims of electoral foul play.
His increasing power, including ruling by decree, led the US and other nations to reject his government's legitimacy and brand him a dictator. The latest events plunge Venezuela into fresh uncertainty. Under Venezuelan law, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez would be expected to assume power, but the situation remains fluid.
Attorney General Bondi vowed the couple would "soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil." President Trump is scheduled to address the situation further in a press conference from Mar-A-Lago, Florida.
