Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been captured by U.S. forces and transported to New York, where they are scheduled to appear in federal court at noon on Monday, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York.
President Donald Trump, speaking at a press conference on Saturday, stated that the U.S. would temporarily “run” Venezuela during the transition and work to restore the country’s oil production. He added on Sunday that the U.S. is “in charge” of the nation.
However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the U.S. does not intend to govern Venezuela directly but will maintain an “oil quarantine” to influence policy.
Maduro and his wife were taken into custody during a U.S. military operation in Caracas, carried out by the Army’s Delta Force, an elite special operations unit.
This mission followed months of U.S. military buildup in the region, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford and other warships in the Caribbean, as well as targeted strikes on over 30 vessels allegedly transporting drugs.
They are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and will face federal charges, including allegations of drug trafficking and collaborating with gangs designated as terrorist organizations—charges that Maduro denies.
The operation has sparked international controversy. Venezuela’s government condemned it as an act of aggression and kidnapping, while the U.S. emphasizes the operation’s legality under U.S. law.
In the interim, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has assumed presidential responsibilities in Venezuela, with support from the Supreme Court and the military.
