Maduro and wife Cilia Flores taken into custody, face US charges for narco-terrorism.
The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was a meticulously planned operation involving US special forces and the CIA. Sources within the Venezuelan government had been monitoring Maduro’s location, providing crucial intel to the Americans.
The CIA used stealth drones to track Maduro’s movements, gathering information that would lead to his capture. The agency’s efforts were aided by a $50 million reward offered by the US government for information leading to Maduro’s capture.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe had promised a more aggressive approach, and President Trump authorized the agency to take more aggressive action last fall. The CIA conducted a drone strike on a dock believed to be used by Venezuelan gangs to load drugs onto boats in late December.
The operation involved months of planning and a deep partnership between the CIA and the military. US officials had Maduro “wired” from early on, meaning they knew his precise location.
The mission was a law enforcement operation carried out by US military special forces, rather than under the CIA’s authority. The CIA played a critical role in planning and executing the operation.
Maduro’s capture was announced by President Trump on social media, stating that he had been captured and flown out of the country. The Venezuelan government accused the US of launching an “imperialist attack”.
The operation was part of Operation Southern Spear, a broader strategy aimed at weakening Maduro’s government. The US had been increasing pressure on Maduro, including a buildup of American forces in the region.
International Response
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting, while Cuba condemned the operation as “state terrorism”. Iran also denounced the strikes, citing a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty.
The Venezuelan army reportedly blocked entrances to the presidential palace, and armored vehicles were deployed. The US has a significant naval and aerial presence in the Caribbean, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.
Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, was also captured and is facing charges. US Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed that the couple would face justice in American courts.
The operation echoes the US invasion of Panama in 1990, which led to the capture of Manuel Antonio Noriega. The legal authority for the strike and whether Trump consulted Congress beforehand is unclear.
The US has previously seized Venezuelan tankers at sea and killed over 100 people in aerial strikes targeting alleged drug-trafficking boats. Maduro had accused the US of trying to topple his government and gain access to Venezuela’s oil reserves.
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