U.S. Captures Maduro

In a historic and highly controversial move, former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are now in U.S. federal custody and being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, following a U.S. military operation carried out in Venezuela on January 3, 2026.

The operation, referred to by U.S. officials as Operation Absolute Resolve, involved coordinated airstrikes and a targeted ground raid in Caracas and other strategic locations. Washington said the mission was aimed at enforcing longstanding federal indictments against Maduro in the Southern District of New York, where he faces charges related to narcotics trafficking and narco-terrorism.

Maduro arrived in New York late Saturday and is being detained at the high-security Brooklyn facility ahead of his initial court appearance. The Metropolitan Detention Center is known for holding high-profile defendants facing serious federal charges. Maduro has repeatedly denied the accusations against him. His wife, Cilia Flores, who was captured during the same operation, also remains in U.S. custody, though officials have released limited details about her detention status.

According to U.S. officials, the military action began in the early hours of January 3, striking key Venezuelan military and transportation sites before a precision raid led to the couple’s capture. The U.S. administration has framed the operation as a law-enforcement effort targeting criminal networks allegedly tied to Maduro’s government.

President Donald Trump later stated that the United States would temporarily oversee Venezuelan affairs while a transition is pursued, though no detailed plan has been outlined. The Pentagon emphasized that the U.S. does not intend to maintain a long-term troop presence in Venezuela.

Maduro is expected to appear before a federal judge in Manhattan as early as next week, where prosecutors will formally present the charges and argue for continued detention as the case proceeds.