Nicolas Maduro, the President of Venezuela, was apprehended by the Trump administration in a daring overnight operation over the weekend, causing widespread astonishment. The operation dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve” was carried out by the Delta Force, a specialized unit of the US military. Maduro and his wife, Cilla Flores, were seized from Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. The swift military action targeted military installations and the mausoleum of Hugo Chavez.
Footage captured by Venezuelans depicted intense flames and smoke rising from the area, contrasting with images released by the Trump administration showing Maduro in a tracksuit being processed in New York. Maduro, aged 63, had been indicted on drug and terrorism charges in a New York court in 2020. The charges included narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons.
Maduro has been brought to New York to face these charges, as seen in video footage shared by the White House showing him being escorted by US Drug Enforcement Administration agents. Previous photos shared on Truth Social by Trump showed Maduro bound and blindfolded on the USS Iwo Jima assault ship. The operation, which had been planned for months, concluded with a surprisingly calm arrest.
The US operation targeted military installations and a port in Venezuela, with dramatic images showing massive columns of smoke and fire. Venezuelan authorities claimed civilian populations were affected by the strikes. Post-attack pictures revealed significant damage to military infrastructure. Maduro has been pictured multiple times with his captors, displaying a more relaxed demeanor. Since arriving in the US, he has been seen giving thumbs up and peace signs in photos. Maduro was taken to a detention center in New York after being flown to the US. Trump shared images of himself at Mar-a-Lago during the operation.