As of January 4, 2026, the biggest development surrounding Nicolás Maduro is his capture by U.S. forces following a large-scale military operation in Venezuela.
On January 3, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American forces conducted airstrikes and successfully captured Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores. They were reportedly flown out of the country to a U.S. warship (with photos shared by Trump showing Maduro in custody) and then transported to New York to face federal charges, including narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons-related offenses dating back to earlier indictments.
In a stunning escalation of tensions between the United States and Venezuela, President Donald Trump announced on January 3, 2026, that US military forces successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following a large-scale strike operation in Caracas.
Trump’s Announcement on Nicolás Maduro’s Capture: The Viral Social Media Post
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
President Trump made the historic announcement from Mar-a-Lago, stating the US would temporarily “run” Venezuela to ensure a safe transition and restore its oil industry. Trump emphasized American companies would invest heavily to revive the nation’s economy.
Here are key moments of Trump addressing the nation and sharing updates on the capture:
Key Details of the Operation
- Maduro, long accused of leading a “narco-state,” faces fresh indictments in New York for narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and weapons charges.
- The strike involved airstrikes, special operations (including Delta Force), and resulted in the capture at a safe house in Caracas.
- Maduro and Flores were flown to a US warship and are en route to face trial in the US.
- Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has declared herself interim leader, condemned the action as “kidnapping,” and demanded Maduro’s release.
- International reactions are sharply divided: Allies like Cuba, Russia, and Iran call it “state terrorism” and a sovereignty violation, while some opposition figures in Venezuela welcome the pressure on the regime.
What’s Next for Venezuela?
The situation remains highly volatile with protests in Caracas, regional flight disruptions, and calls for a UN Security Council emergency meeting. Trump’s pledge of temporary US administration has raised questions about long-term involvement, oil industry control, and potential regional instability.
This marks one of the most significant US military actions in Latin America in decades. Stay tuned for live updates as Maduro’s arrival in New York and potential court proceedings unfold.
Details on Nicolás Maduro’s Narco-Terrorism Charges (January 4, 2026 Update)
Following his dramatic capture by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are now in U.S. custody and en route to New York to face federal charges in the Southern District of New York. The charges stem from a superseding indictment unsealed shortly after the operation, building on original allegations dating back to March 2020.
Here are key visuals of the U.S. federal indictment documents, reward notices, and related seals tied to the narco-terrorism case:
These images include excerpts from the indictment text, official U.S. government wanted posters, and DEA-style reward announcements related to the charges.
Core Charges Against Nicolás Maduro
The superseding indictment (unsealed January 3, 2026) charges Maduro with the following counts:
- Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy — Alleging intentional partnership with designated foreign terrorist organizations (notably FARC dissidents) to use cocaine as a weapon against the United States, with a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison.
- Cocaine Importation Conspiracy — Accusing Maduro of conspiring to import massive quantities of cocaine into the U.S., carrying a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life.
- Possession of Machine Guns and Destructive Devices — Related to arming drug trafficking operations.
- Conspiracy to Possess Machine Guns and Destructive Devices — In furtherance of the above conspiracies, with severe penalties including 30-year mandatory minimums in some related contexts.
These charges expand on the 2020 indictment, which first accused Maduro (along with 14 other Venezuelan officials) of leading the so-called Cartel de los Soles — a narco-trafficking network embedded in Venezuela’s military and government. The new filing adds Maduro’s wife Cilia Flores and son Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra (“the Prince”) as defendants, along with others like Diosdado Cabello.
Key Allegations in the Indictment
- The conspiracy dates back to at least 1999, with Maduro allegedly at the forefront since rising to power.
- Maduro and co-conspirators are accused of corrupting Venezuelan institutions to provide protection, logistics, and safe passage for tons of cocaine (estimates of 200–250 tons annually by 2020) trafficked to the U.S.
- Partners allegedly include Colombian groups (FARC dissidents, ELN), Mexican cartels (Sinaloa, Zetas), and Venezuelan gangs like Tren de Aragua.
- The goal: To “flood the United States with cocaine” to undermine American health and wellbeing, while enriching regime elites through corruption and violence (including alleged murders, kidnappings, and beatings tied to drug debts).
- U.S. officials describe this as turning Venezuela into a “narco-state” where drug trafficking funds and protects the regime.
If convicted on the primary narco-terrorism and importation counts, Maduro could face life imprisonment. The case is prosecuted by the Southern District’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit.
This development follows years of escalating U.S. pressure, including a $50 million reward for Maduro’s capture (increased in 2025) and the designation of related groups as terrorist organizations. The situation remains fluid as Maduro arrives in New York for arraignment. Stay tuned for court updates.
Reactions from Venezuelan Opposition to Nicolás Maduro’s Capture
The capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces has elicited strong, celebratory responses from key figures in the Venezuelan opposition, who view it as a pivotal moment for restoring democracy after years of disputed elections and repression. The opposition has largely framed the event as the “hour of freedom,” while calling for a swift transition to the leadership they recognize from the contested 2024 presidential vote.
María Corina Machado’s Statement
In a widely shared letter and social media post shortly after the U.S. announcement, María Corina Machado declared:
“Venezuelans, the HOUR OF FREEDOM has arrived! Nicolás Maduro, as of today, faces international justice for the atrocious crimes committed against Venezuelans and against citizens of many other nations.”
She urged the Venezuelan military to recognize Edmundo González Urrutia (widely regarded by the opposition and several Western governments as the legitimate winner of the 2024 election, now in exile in Spain) as the constitutional president and commander-in-chief. Machado emphasized that the U.S. had “fulfilled its promise” to enforce the law after Maduro rejected negotiated solutions, and called for an immediate power transfer to rebuild the nation, free political prisoners, and bring exiled Venezuelans home.
