U.S. Military Seizes Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Flies Him to New York

U.S. forces carried out a surprise military operation in Venezuela that resulted in President Nicolás Maduro being captured and flown to the United States.

A plane carrying Maduro landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York.

CBS News

Video circulated showing him at the DEA headquarters in Manhattan.

He is expected to be held in federal custody in Brooklyn pending trial.

PBS and U.S. reporting described the operation as a successful capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

They noted official images posted by President Trump showing senior U.S. officials observing the operation.

U.S. authorities have unsealed criminal accusations against Maduro and his wife.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York as 'alleged international narco traffickers' and will face U.S. courts.

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PBS similarly noted that the operation captured Maduro and Cilia Flores as 'the subjects of newly unsealed U.S. indictments alleging cocaine trafficking.'

CBS described them being held on narcoterrorism charges upon arrival in New York.

President Trump publicly signaled close presidential involvement by posting a photo purporting to show him at Mar-a-Lago with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio observing the operation.

“Maduro arrives in New York”

NPR

He said the U.S. would "run" Venezuela.

The administration planned a classified briefing for key congressional leaders and committee chairs to be delivered by senior officials listed by CBS, including Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and the Joint Chiefs chair.

This underscored the high-level U.S. coordination around the action.

Strikes in and around Caracas targeted military sites and, according to Venezuelan officials, caused civilian harm.

The operation provoked both an official and a public backlash.

PBS

Explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported in Caracas, including at La Carlota airbase.

Venezuelan authorities reported hits on military targets in Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira and said there were civilian casualties and that many of Maduro's security personnel were killed.

Venezuela's armed forces were reported mobilized.

Venezuela's Supreme Court declared Vice President Delcy Rodríguez interim president.

Rodríguez publicly affirmed loyalty to Maduro and denounced the U.S. action as "barbaric".

Protesters rallied outside the Brooklyn jail where Maduro and his wife are being held, warning the raid sets a dangerous precedent.

U.S. officials and former advisers framed the capture as part of a strategy to pressure and financially squeeze the Maduro regime.

The action has also raised legal and diplomatic questions and concerns about detainees.

CBS News

Former national security adviser H.R. McMaster said the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is "a very complicated first step" toward bringing him to justice and replacing his regime.

He said U.S. actions are aimed primarily at increasing pressure by "drying up their cash flow" (interdicting oil tankers, destroying boats, cutting off narcotics funds).

NPR noted the operation "has prompted legal and diplomatic questions about U.S. actions in Venezuela."

CBS reported that a hostage advocate says at least four Americans remain detained in Venezuela and that some lawmakers have urged the administration to seek their return and consider wrongful‑detention designations.