KEY DEVELOPMENTS
- The US arrested Maduro in Caracas – everything we know so far
- “We will remain in control of the country until a democratic transition takes place; we are ready for a second strike if necessary,” is Donald Trump’s message following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
- The photo of Nicolás Maduro in handcuffs aboard a US aircraft carrier transporting the Venezuelan president, who will be taken to Guantánamo (See here).
- “It was an incredible operation, like a TV show,” Trump said, revealing that he watched the Delta Force operation live from Mar-a-Lago. He added that Maduro and his wife are aboard a US warship that will sail to New York.
- According to reports, a CIA “source” led authorities to the house where Maduro was located. The “source” is expected to receive the $50 million bounty.
- Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were dragged out of their bedroom by US forces during the raid that led to their arrest, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
Delcy Rodríguez assumes duties as president of Venezuela
The country’s vice president until now assumed presidential duties late on Saturday, following a ruling by the Supreme Court, after the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to the United States.
04/01/2026 04:12
Watch video: Maduro enters the DEA building
He greets those present and wishes them… “Happy New Year.”
Footage of Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro entering the DEA Building earlier in New York City, telling bystanders “Goodnight” and wishing them a “Happy New Year.” pic.twitter.com/v4mctwzyc2
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 4, 2026
04/01/2026 04:03
Watch video: Maduro with U.S. agents after his arrival in New York
The footage is from Maduro’s arrival at Stewart Air Force Base.
Footage of Venezuelan President Maduro’s perp walk at Stewart Air National Guard Base. pic.twitter.com/BgUnJgsCL3
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) January 4, 2026
04/01/2026 03:58
Maduro on U.S. soil with DEA agents
04/01/2026 03:54
Maduro heading to a detention center
The BBC reports that Maduro and his wife passed through DEA offices and are now being taken to a detention facility.
04/01/2026 03:32
Awaiting Maduro’s arrival at DEA headquarters
U.S. authorities will take fingerprints and biometric data from Maduro and his wife before he is placed in custody ahead of his court appearance, likely on Monday.
04/01/2026 03:08
BBC: Maduro arrived in Manhattan
He was transferred from the airport by helicopter and then by van to the offices of the DEA, the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the BBC.
04/01/2026 02:22
Operation to arrest Maduro exceeds acceptable limits, says Lula
The Brazilian president did not recognize Maduro’s third re-election to the presidency in 2024, nor did he recognize the victory of the right-wing candidate.
How Maduro will be transferred
After Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro landed in New York, he will be transported by helicopter to the Westside Heliport in Manhattan and then taken to the headquarters of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), where his official booking and processing will take place, according to U.S. media cited by the BBC.
From there, he is expected to be transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, where he will be held pending his appearance before a federal court in Manhattan next week, facing charges related to drugs and weapons.
The notorious prison, widely known as the MDC, has previously housed many high-profile detainees, including rapper R. Kelly, Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and more recently Sean “Diddy” Combs.
04/01/2026 01:37
A Venezuelan official says at least 40 people were killed during the U.S. operation that led to Maduro’s arrest.
04/01/2026 01:24
Sources in Caracas: At least 40 dead from the U.S. attack
The operation by U.S. forces to capture Maduro resulted in the deaths of at least 40 people—both uniformed personnel and civilians—according to a senior Venezuelan official who spoke to The New York Times.
There were no U.S. casualties, Donald Trump had said earlier.
04/01/2026 01:19
Maduro’s wife undergoes medical examinations at a New York military base
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, remain at the Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, as Flores is undergoing further medical examinations in a hangar, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the situation, CNN reports.
04/01/2026 01:16
Maduro to be transferred to Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center
According to CBS, Nicolás Maduro will be transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until his trial on Monday.
The Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn is a federal administrative prison of the United States located in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. It houses male and female detainees of all security levels and is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Watch live footage from Sky News from Venezuela
Venezuelan president Maduro captured after US strikes on country | Sky News Breaking coverage
- Maduro is no longer the president of Venezuela, said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- Large gatherings in Caracas by both Maduro supporters and opposition protesters.
- The operation to locate and arrest Maduro was planned and carried out by commandos of the elite Delta Force.
- An arrest warrant had been issued against Maduro by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office on charges of drug trafficking, weapons possession, and conspiracy.
- Moscow is seeking clarifications regarding the US operation and Maduro’s arrest, while Maduro’s vice president is reportedly in the Russian capital.
- What will happen in Venezuela after Maduro’s arrest by the US: first analysis HERE.
- Why Maduro’s arrest is a “slap” to Beijing and a message to Tehran: Read HERE.
- From Noriega to Maduro: how the US removed a sitting president from his country.
- Nicolás Maduro: the bus driver who ruled Venezuela for 12 years, the crises, Trump, and the $50 million bounty.
03/01/2026 – 16:38
General Raznkein, who ran the operation, takes the podium.
Raiznkein: 150 aircraft took part in the operation
“All branches of the US Armed Forces, as well as the intelligence services, participated in the operation in order to produce a result that no other country can achieve. A total of 150 aircraft were involved. This came after months of preparation and intelligence gathering. We had complete data on his movements and his life — even his pets. For weeks, due to weather conditions, our forces remained on standby. Last night, for a few hours, conditions were ideal. At 10:46 p.m. US time, the President gave the go-ahead. The youngest member of the operation was 20 years old and the oldest was 49. F-22s and F-35s, as well as B-1 bombers, were among the aircraft types that took part in the operation.”
03/01/2026 – 19:04
Hegseth: Trump is “deadly serious” about drugs and oil.
“Maduro had his chance, like Iran, until that chance ran out. Trump is ‘deadly serious’ about drugs and the oil that has been stolen from us. This is about the future and prosperity of Americans. That is the definition of America First. Welcome to 2026.”
03/01/2026 – 19:03
Secretary of War Hegseth at the podium:
“Words can hardly describe yesterday’s operation by the best warriors in the world. No other country and no other president could have carried out this operation.”
03/01/2026 – 19:01
Trump warns Venezuelan officials:
“All political and military figures in Venezuela must understand that what happened to Maduro can — and will — happen to them if they persist on his path.”
03/01/2026 – 19:00
Trump: Venezuela’s oil infrastructure is becoming ours again.
“The oil infrastructure of Venezuela that we built suddenly fell into foreign hands. Today it becomes ours again. While some were fighting wars thousands of miles away, in our own neighborhood we were being robbed.
We are returning to the Monroe Doctrine. We had almost forgotten it. Now everyone will remember it. No one will challenge us again in this hemisphere and in the Southern Hemisphere. We are returning forcefully to our region.
The future will be determined by how well we protect our region — and the entire area — from ‘interference.’ These are the rules that have historically governed the dynamics of superpowers.”
03/01/2026 – 18:58
Trump: Maduro will be held accountable and punished.
“The dictator and criminal Maduro will be held accountable and punished as the head of a very dangerous drug cartel. He and his wife are now aboard a vessel that will ultimately arrive in New York. The gangs Maduro financed for years have spread terror and death in the United States. Maduro will never again be able to threaten the lives of American citizens.”
03/01/2026 – 18:50
Trump: We are fully ready for a second wave of attacks if required.
03/01/2026 – 18:48
Trump: We will manage developments in Venezuela until a smooth transition occurs.
“We will manage developments in Venezuela until a smooth transition takes place. We will not take any risks. We want peace and justice for the country’s citizens and for them to return freely to their homeland. We will not allow anyone to exploit the Maduro vacuum. We will remain in control of Venezuela until a proper, democratic transition takes place. US oil companies are returning immediately with billions in investments. The new US–Venezuela partnership will make the country’s citizens wealthy, independent, and safe.”
03/01/2026 – 18:46
Trump: Venezuelan forces could do nothing.
“Venezuelan forces, although they were expecting us, could not do anything. Not a single member of our armed forces was killed, and none of our fighter jets or helicopters sustained any damage. Today, the image of our armed forces is being restored after the Afghanistan fiasco.”
03/01/2026 – 18:45
Trump: Very serious narco-terrorism charges against Maduro and his wife.
“In the dead of night, with Venezuela’s defenses fully neutralized, we arrested Maduro at the location where he was staying with his wife. Both face very serious charges of narco-terrorism against American citizens.”
03/01/2026 – 18:44
Trump: Dictator Nicolás Maduro will answer to US justice.
“On my order, an impressive military operation was carried out in Venezuela this morning — an operation the world has not seen since World War II. The target was dictator Nicolás Maduro, who will answer to the justice system of the United States for his crimes.”
03/01/2026 – 18:43
Trump briefing on developments in Venezuela begins.
President Donald Trump delivers a press briefing at Mar-a-Lago.
03/01/2026 – 18:40
Maduro being taken to Guantánamo.
For security reasons, the FBI is taking Nicolás Maduro to Guantánamo.
ABC reveals a “clash” between the FBI and the CIA, with the FBI stressing there are serious security reasons why he cannot be held for so many hours in New York.
03/01/2026 – 18:31
Trump released a photo of Maduro in handcuffs aboard a US warship.
Donald Trump released the first photo of Nicolás Maduro after his arrest, showing the Venezuelan president blindfolded with his hands bound.
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