ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is now in United States custody following a sweeping U.S. military operation that struck targets across Venezuela and culminated in his arrest and transfer to American soil, deepening political uncertainty and regional tension.
U.S. officials confirmed that Maduro was flown into the country late Saturday and is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he is expected to face long-standing drug trafficking and weapons-related charges.
Footage released by U.S. authorities showed the Venezuelan leader being escorted from a federal aircraft after landing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York.
President Donald Trump announced the operation earlier on Saturday, declaring that U.S. forces had successfully captured Maduro and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, following what he described as a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela.
Trump said the United States would temporarily “run the country” until what he called a “judicious transition” could be achieved, adding that Washington would also take control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
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The military action triggered immediate political tremors inside Venezuela. The country’s Supreme Court swiftly directed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the powers and duties of acting president, while prominent opposition figure María Corina Machado called for an opposition-led transitional authority to take over governance.
Across Venezuela and among Venezuelan communities abroad, reactions were sharply mixed.
Government supporters rallied in Caracas on January 3, waving flags and denouncing U.S. intervention, while others expressed cautious optimism that Maduro’s removal could mark a turning point after years of economic collapse and political repression.
At the same time, many voiced anxiety over what comes next, amid fears of instability and foreign control.
The U.S. operation also disrupted regional air travel, prompting the temporary closure of large sections of Caribbean airspace.
Aviation authorities later announced that flights would resume from midnight Eastern Time, with several airlines confirming plans to restart services by Sunday.
Maduro’s arrest follows years of mounting pressure from Washington. He was indicted in New York in 2020 during Trump’s first administration on charges related to narcotics trafficking, accusations he has consistently denied.
Saturday’s operation marks the most dramatic escalation yet in the long-running confrontation between the United States and Venezuela’s socialist government.
As developments continue to unfold, the future of Venezuela’s leadership, sovereignty, and control over its oil wealth remains uncertain, with global attention now fixed on Washington, Caracas, and the unfolding legal and political battles ahead.