One of the helicopters in the convoy transporting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrives at the West Side Heliport in New York, January 3, 2026. JEENAH MOON/REUTERS
Nicolas Maduro, who was taken from his bed in Caracas by US special forces on Saturday, January 3, now sleeps in a cell at the federal prison in Brooklyn, New York. The imposing concrete complex, some 10 stories tall and located on the edge of the bay, has a few rare windows offering breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.
It was a dizzying change in scenery for the ousted Venezuelan president, reflecting the weekend's rapid escalation of events. The United States launched a deadly attack in a sovereign country, abducted its leader, transported him by helicopter and then by warship to New York, paraded him in handcuffs through the offices of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration agency and then whisked him away to Brooklyn, sirens blaring, to bring him before the justice system. Launched by Trump, Operation Absolute Resolve will leave a lasting mark on the history of the Americas and beyond.
On Monday morning, Maduro was expected to leave his cell and board a helicopter, this time heading for the Manhattan courthouse, where the first stage of what promises to be a long and complex judicial process awaits him. The Chavista leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, who was also abducted and is being held in the same location, are being prosecuted for drug trafficking and conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism. The initial hearing is scheduled to begin at noon local time.
