From Caracas to New York: The Capture of Nicolás Maduro

Mon Feb 02 2026 20:30:19 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a historic operation, Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela, was captured by U.S. forces amid a military assault that shook Caracas. This article chronicles the dramatic events and implications for international politics.

Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended by U.S. troops after a meticulously planned military operation in Caracas, Venezuela. Following their capture, which was marked by explosions and gunfire, they are now facing charges of narco-terrorism in a New York detention center. This unprecedented event highlights the complexities of U.S.-Venezuela relations and the political ramifications for both nations.

The US says its military operation to capture Venezuela's president took months of planning, but when Donald Trump gave the order to launch, Operation Absolute Resolve only lasted about 150 minutes.

The surprise early-morning attack on Saturday marked an unprecedented event in modern politics and culminated in the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Captured by troops from an elite US army unit as they tried to flee into a fortified safe room, the pair are now being held in a detention centre in New York and face narco-terrorism charges.

As the sun rose on Saturday, the scale of the military operation in Caracas was clear.

Pictures from Fuerte Tiuna, a huge military complex where top government officials live, show bombed out buildings and charred, smouldering cars.

Operation Absolute Resolve began with reports of explosions at about 02:00 in Caracas (06:00 GMT). The US cut power to the city, and Trump's administration described it as dark and deadly. The aim was to disable Venezuela's air defences and clear the path for US military helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna.

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported some 2,100 miles (3,400km) to New York City. They have been charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of machine guns, and conspiracy to possess destructive devices against the US.

The operation, the subsequent capture, and the unfolding legal battles highlight the complex dynamics of U.S.-Venezuela relations and the broader geopolitical landscape.