In a dramatic and unprecedented development early Saturday, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a military operation in Caracas that included airstrikes and strategic raids, President Donald Trump announced.

The couple has been flown out of Venezuela and is now in U.S. custody, where they will face criminal charges in New York federal court.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi released an indictment saying both Maduro and his wife have been charged in the Southern District of New York with serious federal offences, including:

• Narco‑Terrorism Conspiracy,

• Cocaine Importation Conspiracy,

• Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices,

• Conspiracy to Possess Weapons Against the United States.

Bondi wrote that the indictment alleges Maduro’s regime ran a “corrupt, illegitimate government” that helped smuggle tons of cocaine into the United States and collaborated with violent drug networks abroad.

She said the couple “will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”

Context: Long‑Running U.S. Investigations

The indictment reflects a long‑standing effort by U.S. law enforcement. Maduro was first indicted in 2020 on federal drug and terror‑related charges, and the U.S. has in recent years increased the reward for information leading to his arrest to as much as $50 million

Bondi and other U.S. officials have described Maduro as deeply tied to organised criminal networks, including the so‑called Cartel of the Suns and other gangs, and accused him of using Venezuela’s government as a platform for narcotics trafficking and violence.

Trump Frames Operation as Victory

President Trump hailed the operation as a major success in combating drug trafficking and criminal leadership, saying it would allow the U.S. to help stabilise Venezuela. He stated the United States would oversee the country “for now.”

Reactions and Controversy

The raid has triggered widespread international concern:

• Venezuela’s government condemned the strikes as illegal aggression.

• Allies like China and many U.N. members criticised the U.S. for violating Venezuela’s sovereignty.

• Legal experts warn that the capture raises major international law questions about using military force to detain a sitting head of state.

Maduro and Flores are expected to appear in a U.S. federal courtroom in New York in the coming days. The legal process will unfold amid heated debate over the legality of the U.S. military operation, the scope of the charges, and what comes next for Venezuela’s leadership and stability.