In a stunning turn of events, new photos released by President Donald Trump and U.S. authorities show Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in American custody, marking the end of a bold overnight military operation in Caracas.
The images depict Maduro dressed in gray sweatpants and a sweatshirt handcuffed, wearing blackout goggles, and being escorted by officials. One widely shared photo, posted by Trump on Truth Social, shows him aboard the USS Iwo Jima, a U.S. Navy ship, holding a water bottle while restrained. Additional pictures and videos capture his arrival in New York, including being led off a plane at Stewart Air National Guard Base and processed at DEA headquarters in Manhattan.
The operation, dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” involved elite Delta Force troops raiding Maduro’s fortified compound early on January 3, 2026, after targeted strikes on military sites around Caracas to clear the way. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were quickly taken into custody without major resistance, though Maduro reportedly tried to reach a safe room.
They were flown out of Venezuela by helicopter to a U.S. warship, then transported to New York, where Maduro is now held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He faces long-standing federal charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses—allegations he has long denied.
Reactions have been intense: Celebrations among Venezuelan expatriates in New York contrasted with protests in Caracas and condemnations from allies like China, Russia, and Cuba, who called it a violation of sovereignty. President Trump has stated the U.S. will temporarily “run” Venezuela and oversee its oil resources during a transition.
As Maduro awaits a likely court appearance soon, the world watches what this means for Venezuela’s future and international norms.