{"id":9356,"date":"2026-01-05T00:34:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T00:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=9356"},"modified":"2026-01-05T00:34:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T00:34:22","slug":"united-states-capture-venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=9356","title":{"rendered":"United States capture Venezuelan president, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Sunday, January 4, 2026<\/strong>
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Related articles<\/p>\n

Location of Venezuela<\/p>\n

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Collaborate!<\/p>\n

\"Venezuela\"<\/a>
Venezuela<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\"Nicol\u00e1s<\/a>
Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima<\/i>.
Image: United States Department of Defense.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The president of Venezuela<\/a><\/span>, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a><\/span>, has been captured by the United States<\/a><\/span> on Saturday at around 3 am UTC-4, according to post by US president Donald Trump<\/a><\/span> on social media. Trump has told reporters Maduro had been \u201cin a house that was more like a fortress\u201d, in the country\u2019s capital, Caracas<\/a><\/span>. Trump justified this action by claiming that Maduro is the leader of the Cartel de los Soles<\/a><\/span>, and pushing illegal immigration of dangerous individuals in the United States. Local authorities in Venezuela have requested a United Nations<\/a> Security Council meeting to be held after the attack.\n<\/p>\n

After the capture, the US Justice Department<\/a><\/span> unsealed an indictment against Maduro in which Maduro and others were charged with \u201cconspiracy to commit narco?terrorism<\/a><\/span> and conspiracy to import cocaine\u201d. Maduro has repeatedly denied it.\n<\/p>\n

The BBC<\/a><\/span> reports airstrikes in Caracas targeting La Carlota<\/a><\/span>, an airbase and Fort Tiuna<\/a><\/span>, a military base where the United States suspected Maduro to be located, and in other locations. According to local authorities there has been civilian deaths and injuries, but the exact numbers are still unknown. It was also reported by the BBC that the operation was orchestrated by a CIA<\/a><\/span> infiltration of the Venezuelan government. France 24<\/a><\/span> reported that the CIA had been monitoring his \u201cevery movement since August\u201d, despite Maduro\u2019s efforts to change location regularly. It was also reported that the operation involved more than 150 military aircraft, including one helicopter that was to capture Maduro.\n<\/p>\n

According to the United States authorities, the Delta Force<\/a><\/span> special operation force, arrived at Maduro\u2019s location at \u201c2:01 a.m. local time\u201d and were able to capture him before he could get into his solid steel safe room (sources contradict however, on his exact location at that point. Some sources reported that Trump said Maduro was almost in his safe room whilst others said he was sleeping in his bed). They then relocated the \u201cindicted persons\u201d on a ship by after crossing the coastline of Venezuela at 3:29 am. Trump later revealed that Maduro\u2019s wife, Cilia Flores<\/a><\/span>, was also captured, and both were on board the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7)<\/a><\/span> with destination the southern district of New York<\/a><\/span>, ultimately to be prosecuted. Attorney General Pam Bondi<\/a><\/span> was quoted by the BBC saying \u201c[he will] face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts\u201d and, according to CNN<\/a><\/span>, announced an indictment for leading \u201cstate?sponsored gangs\u201d and supporting drug trafficking.\n<\/p>\n

Venezuelan authorities also reported other strikes, said to be made with the intent of seizing their oil and minerals, and have declared national emergency. They, along with Cuba, Colombia, Iran and Russia, have denounced the action as a \u201cserious military aggression\u201d. Argentine\u2019s president, Javier Milei<\/a><\/span> supported the action. Yv\u00e1n Gil Pinto<\/a><\/span>, Venezuela\u2019s foreign minister, said the country sought an emergency UN Security Council meeting after the attack; and Venezuela\u2019s vice?president, Delcy Rodr\u00edguez<\/a><\/span> called for Maduro and his wife to be released, saying the operation violated the country\u2019s territorial integrity. The BBC stated that these strikes follow a string of more than 30 strikes on Venezuelan vessels, and a strike on a \u201cdock area\u201d in Maracaibo<\/a><\/span>, resulting in the death of more than 110 people. The Trump administration stated that it is engaging in \u201cnon?international armed conflict with [\u2026] alleged drug traffickers\u201d. According to the BBC, legal experts doubt the legality of these actions, saying the strikes are not against \u201clawful military targets\u201d. According to CNN, Trump also justified not advising Congress before the operation to avoid a \u201cleak\u201d, which drew criticisms from Democrat lawmakers.\n<\/p>\n