Nicolás Maduro, the former authoritarian president of Venezuela, and his wife, Cilia Flores, have arrived in New York to face federal charges following a dramatic U.S. military operation. The couple landed at Stewart International Airport in Orange County, north of New York City, late Saturday afternoon, January 3, having been flown in by the Department of Justice from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A video of the plane taxiing on the runway is available for viewing.
The pair disembarked under heavy guard, chained and shackled, marking their first appearance on U.S. soil since their overnight capture by elite Army Delta Force operatives in Caracas. They were then transported by helicopter to Manhattan to be booked and arraigned. They are expected to be held at the Federal Detention Center in Brooklyn, which currently houses Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
President Donald Trump released the first photo of Maduro in U.S. custody late Saturday morning on Truth Social. The image shows the Venezuelan leader blindfolded, wearing ear defenders, and restrained aboard the USS Iwo Jima following his capture. Trump mentioned that Maduro and his wife attempted to reach a fortified, steel safe place when they were apprehended after being awoken by the raiding commandos.
Speaking at a press conference from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump declared that the U.S. will “run” Venezuela “until such a time that we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.” He did not provide a definitive answer when asked if the U.S. military would remain in Venezuela.
“We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” he said. “We had boots on the ground last night at a very high level.” When asked who would lead Venezuela, Trump stated a “group” would be designated and that details would follow. He added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and described her response as “quite gracious, but doesn’t really have a choice.”
Trump claimed U.S. companies will rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure and sell “large amounts of oil.” He praised the military operation, stating, “No nation in the world could achieve what America achieved.” Trump also asserted that all Venezuelan military capabilities were “rendered powerless” in the raid and that the lights in Caracas were cut “due to a certain expertise” by U.S. forces.
The mission, named “Operation Absolute Resolve,” involved 150 American military aircraft from across the Western Hemisphere, according to General Dan “Razin” Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at Saturday’s press conference with the president. B-1 bombers, F-18, F-22, and F-35 fighters, drones, and helicopters were part of the operation. There were no American military fatalities, though several injuries were reported.
Earlier reports indicated that Nicolás Maduro and his wife were taken to a U.S. warship after their daring capture and were awaiting New York charges, as confirmed by Trump.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices against the United States. “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi said.
The indictment, unsealed after Bondi’s statement, also names Maduro’s son and six others. A court appearance in Manhattan could occur as early as Monday, January 5.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado referred to Maduro’s capture as Venezuela’s “hour of freedom” and stated that the opposition is “ready to take over power.” Venezuela has a population of around 28 million, ranking fifth in South America, behind Brazil (216 million), Colombia (52 million), Argentina (46 million), and Peru (34 million).
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