U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro in Overnight Raid

By Michael Ehindero

U.S. forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following what American officials described as a large-scale overnight military operation in Venezuela. U.S. authorities said on Saturday that the couple has been indicted in New York on drug-trafficking and related charges.


In a statement posted on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump said the operation was carried out in coordination with American law enforcement agencies. He described the action as a joint military and legal effort targeting the Venezuelan leader.



“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,” Trump said, adding that the operation was conducted alongside U.S. law enforcement authorities.


U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on X that Maduro and Flores were indicted in the Southern District of New York. According to her statement, the charges include conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, weapons offences, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States. She wrote:


"Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers."

Trump further said the couple were flown to the USS Iwo Jima following their capture and are expected to be transferred to New York to face the charges.


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