In a surprise early morning attack, U.S. air and naval forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Saturday, Jan. 3. They landed Saturday evening in New York, where they face criminal drug charges, U.S. officials said.
President Donald Trump announced Maduro's capture on Truth Social at 4:21 a.m.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro,” Trump posted. He said Maduro and his wife were flown out of the country.
No U.S. casualties were reported.
In a 2.5-hour operation, Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by special military forces and taken by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship, Trump told “Fox and Friends” Saturday morning. They were later transferred to a plane that took them to New York.
