How Maduro, Wife Were Captured While Sleeping

U.S. military forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a pre-dawn raid on Saturday, January 4, 2026. The couple was reportedly taken into custody at their residence and flown out of Venezuela to the United States, where they will face federal charges.

The operation, code-named Absolute Resolve, involved months of intelligence gathering by U.S. agencies, including the CIA, NSA, and NCA. Officials said over 150 aircraft were deployed to neutralize Venezuelan air defenses and provide cover for the special forces tasked with the extraction.

Helicopters carrying the ground team approached Maduro’s compound under cover of darkness, flying low to avoid detection. U.S. forces entered the residence in the early hours while the president and his wife were inside. Reports indicate the pair were apprehended without prolonged resistance.

During the operation, some hostile fire was encountered, and one U.S. aircraft sustained damage, but no American casualties were reported. Venezuelan officials denounced the mission as an illegal attack on the country’s sovereignty.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the success of the operation, stating that the United States would oversee Venezuela temporarily until a “safe and orderly transition” of power is arranged. International reactions have been mixed, with several countries questioning the legality of the raid.

Maduro and Flores are expected to be formally charged in the United States on longstanding allegations linked to narcotics and terrorism.