Nicolas Maduro Arrested by US Forces, Jailed in New York; Delcy Rodriguez Steps In as Acting Venezuelan President
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was taken into custody by US forces and flown to New York early Saturday, marking a dramatic escalation in Washington’s long-running standoff with Caracas. Within hours, Maduro was placed in a federal jail, while Vice President Delcy Rodriguez emerged as Venezuela’s acting president amid a fast-moving political crisis.
US officials said the arrest followed a late-night military operation in Caracas, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, carried out by elite American special forces. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained at the heavily fortified Fort Tiuna military compound, where they were reportedly staying at the time of the raid. Both were later transported to the United States.
Maduro, 63, is now being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and is expected to appear before a federal court in Manhattan on Monday. US prosecutors have charged him and Flores with narco-terrorism, accusing them of conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine into the United States and possessing illegal weapons.
Leadership Uncertainty in Caracas
As news of the arrest spread, Delcy Rodriguez appeared on Venezuelan state television, rejecting US claims that Maduro had been removed from office. Calling the operation a “kidnapping,” she demanded proof of life for Maduro and his wife and insisted he remains the country’s only legitimate president.
Despite those remarks, a Venezuelan court later ordered Rodriguez, 56, to assume the role of interim president. The decision has deepened uncertainty in a country already struggling with political division and economic collapse.
Maduro has long described Rodriguez as one of his most trusted allies. A central figure in his government, she also serves as oil minister and has overseen efforts to manage US sanctions targeting Venezuela’s energy sector.
Trump Declares US Control
US President Donald Trump said Washington would temporarily take charge of Venezuela following Maduro’s arrest. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump said the United States would “run the country” until a transition could be carried out safely.
“We can’t take the risk of someone else stepping in who doesn’t have the interests of Venezuelans in mind,” Trump told reporters. He added that American oil companies would be brought in to repair Venezuela’s deteriorating oil infrastructure, citing the country’s vast crude reserves.
Trump has repeatedly accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel and blamed his government for narcotics trafficking, illegal migration, and economic mismanagement. He also pointed to disputed elections in 2018 and 2024, which the US and several European countries have said lacked legitimacy.
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Details of the Operation
US military officials said the raid lasted about 30 minutes and involved units such as the Army’s Delta Force. Maduro was reportedly detained while attempting to reach a reinforced safe room inside the compound. No US personnel were killed during the mission.
Senior officials said American intelligence agencies had been tracking Maduro’s movements for months. Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine said surveillance covered “everything from where he lived and traveled to the smallest daily routines.” Trump later said US forces even built a replica of Maduro’s residence for training purposes and that he watched the operation unfold live.
Video Emerges from New York
A video released by the White House’s Rapid Response account showed Maduro being escorted by Drug Enforcement Administration officers inside the agency’s New York office. Handcuffed and dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt, he was seen walking through a corridor marked “DEA NYD,” briefly greeting officials as he passed.
From there, Maduro was transferred to the Brooklyn detention facility, the same jail that previously held several high-profile inmates, including rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs during his trial last year.
A Turning Point
Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013 after succeeding Hugo Chávez, has consistently denied any role in drug trafficking. He has argued that Washington’s actions are driven by Venezuela’s oil wealth rather than concerns over crime or democracy.
His arrest now represents one of the most consequential moments in US–Venezuela relations in decades, with implications that stretch beyond the country’s borders. As Caracas grapples with a sudden leadership vacuum and Washington signals a deeper role, the region is bracing for what comes next.