US Delta Force captures Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in Caracas and transports them to New York amid drug trafficking allegations

In a move that has stunned the world, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has landed in the United States following a daring operation by the US Army’s Delta Force.

Maduro, along with his wife Cilia Flores, touched down at Stewart Air National Guard Base in upstate New York on Saturday afternoon aboard a white FBI Boeing 757.

Authorities quickly boarded the plane, taking Maduro into custody as the couple and several aides slowly disembarked.

The capture comes amid drug trafficking allegations and marks an unprecedented action in US foreign operations.

Maduro’s Journey From Caracas to New York

Maduro and Flores were reportedly seized late Friday night in Caracas.

Footage shared by Puerto Rican broadcaster NotiCentro allegedly shows the couple boarding a US military aircraft at Ramey Base in Aguadilla earlier Saturday.

From there, they were flown to a helicopter waiting aboard the USS Iwo Jima before their final flight to New York.

The mayor of Aguadilla, Julio Roldan, highlighted the strategic significance of the city, noting it was the first American jurisdiction to process Maduro during the operation.

Trump Declares Temporary Control Over Venezuela

In a press conference following the capture, former President Donald Trump announced that the US would “run the country” until a safe and proper transition could be arranged.

While offering few logistical details, he suggested Venezuela’s oil reserves would play a key role in funding the country’s revival.

Trump emphasized the urgency of the operation, claiming that alerting Congress beforehand could have allowed Maduro to evade capture.

Charges and Imprisonment Await

Maduro is expected to be held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, notorious for its harsh conditions.

He faces drug and weapons trafficking charges originally filed in 2020 during Trump’s first term.

Trump also confirmed that Flores will face charges, though specifics remain unclear.

The operation reportedly involved no casualties, according to US sources, though explosions in Caracas were reported during the raid.

Venezuelan authorities claim “innocents” were mortally wounded, but full details remain unconfirmed.

Public Reactions Split Across the Americas

The news sparked celebrations among Venezuelan migrants abroad, particularly in cities like Santiago, Chile.

Many hailed the ouster of a leader widely criticized for corruption and economic mismanagement.

In Caracas, reactions were more subdued.

Residents queued outside supermarkets amid concerns that Maduro’s removal could worsen existing economic instability.

A Humbling Image of the Former President

A photo released shortly before Trump’s press conference showed Maduro in a gray tracksuit, wearing an eye mask and earmuffs — a stark departure from his usual military or formal attire.

Commentators speculated the image was meant to underscore his vulnerability and public humiliation.

Flores’s whereabouts during the photo remain undisclosed.

The Operation’s Military Precision

The capture was executed in the early hours of Saturday, Venezuela time, with Delta Force troops striking multiple sites across Caracas.

According to Trump, the operation was one of the most daring in US military history.

CIA operatives had reportedly tracked the couple for days, as the Maduros allegedly moved each night to avoid capture.

Trump described the operation on live television as “like watching a show,” highlighting the speed and precision of the raid.

Looking Ahead for Venezuela

While Nobel Peace Prize nominee Maria Corina Machado has been suggested as a potential successor, Trump made no comment on leadership plans.

For now, the United States maintains control over Venezuelan governance, at least temporarily, while the future of the nation’s political and economic structures hangs in the balance.

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