What Happened to Nicolás Maduro: US Captures Venezuelan President in Caracas Raid
Jan. 3, 2026 — Caracas, Venezuela U.S. special forces conducted Operation Absolute Resolve, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during a raid that addressed allegations of narco-terrorism and related crimes. The pair was transported to New York aboard the USS Iwo Jima and now face federal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and weapons offenses in the Southern District of New York, as detailed by the U.S. State Department.
Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty on January 5 and are detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, with their next hearing scheduled for March 26, according to Al Jazeera reporting. The operation involved clashes resulting in 70 to 100 deaths, and Maduro has claimed prisoner of war status.
Charges and Detention
What happened to Nicolás Maduro centers on indictments for his alleged role in drug trafficking and arms violations, stemming from long-standing U.S. accusations. Court proceedings continue as of February 25, 2026, with the Venezuelan government demanding his release from U.S. custody.
Venezuela’s Political Transition
Delcy Rodríguez is serving as acting president and maintains that Maduro remains Venezuela’s legitimate leader, as stated in an NBC News interview. Recent developments include purges, such as the removal of Alex Saab’s wife from government positions on X. A CNN analysis one month after the capture highlights ongoing instability.
International Financial Measures
Switzerland has frozen over $880 million in assets linked to Maduro and his associates to prevent fund outflows, per Infobae details shared on X. Discussions on X continue about these frozen assets and political shifts.
U.S. Political Reactions
President Trump praised the arrest during his State of the Union address, describing acting leader Delcy Rodríguez as a ‘friend and partner’ in one account via Florida Politics. Florida has incorporated what happened to Nicolás Maduro into school curricula, according to People magazine. Pressure on Venezuela’s new leadership is noted in BBC coverage, while a PBS Frontline eyewitness account describes the raid night. What happened to Nicolás Maduro remains a focal point in University of Chicago analysis.
