The president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduroand the first lady Cilia Flores arrived this Saturday (January 3, 2026) at a military base in the State of New York, in the United States, after being captured in Caracas in an operation conducted by the North American Armed Forces.
According to US authorities, the couple was taken from the official residence during the early hours of the morning and initially taken to a warship before being transferred by air to US territory.
According to the US Department of Justice, Maduro will face charges of involvement in international drug trafficking and weapons-related crimes in federal court in Manhattan.
A new indictment was made public this Saturday and includes, in addition to the Venezuelan president, members of his family and political allies. The process resumes accusations already presented in 2020, which indicate the Venezuelan leader’s participation in drug trafficking schemes and cooperation with foreign armed groups.
After the operation, the American president Donald Trump stated that the United States intends to temporarily take over the administration of Venezuela, focusing on the exploration and commercialization of the country’s oil reserves.
UNDERSTAND
The President of the United States, (Republican Party), launched a large-scale attack against Venezuela this Saturday (Jan. 3). He captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Explosions, aircraft and black smoke were seen in Caracas at around 2am local time (3am Brasília time) for approximately 90 minutes, according to images circulating on social media. A blackout affected the southern area of the city, close to an important military base.
Read the chronology of the attack in the infographic below:
