Nicolás Maduro has, according to multiple U.S. and international news outlets, been captured by U.S. forces and removed from Venezuela, and is reported to be in U.S. custody facing criminal charges.

What reportedly happened

  • U.S. President Donald Trump announced a large-scale military operation against Venezuela that included airstrikes on key military sites in and around Caracas.
  • During this overnight operation, U.S. special operations forces (reported as Delta Force) allegedly seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, at or near their residence and flew them out of the country.
  • U.S. officials and media say Maduro is being transported to or held in the United States to face long‑standing drug‑related and “narco‑terrorism” charges in New York.

How Venezuela is responding

  • Venezuelan authorities describe the event not as a lawful arrest but as a “kidnapping” of their sitting president and first lady, demanding “proof of life” and condemning the U.S. strikes as an act of aggression.
  • Government figures in Caracas report strikes across multiple regions, with power outages, explosions, and damage to military infrastructure, and say national defenses have been activated.

Current status and uncertainty

  • From the U.S. side, the public line is that Maduro has been captured and removed from Venezuela, with Trump promising more details in press conferences and on social media, including at least one published photo claiming to show Maduro in custody.
  • From the Venezuelan side, there is no acceptance of the legality of the capture, and officials are questioning where Maduro is, insisting the U.S. prove his status and safety.

Forum and trending discussion

  • Online forums and social channels are full of debate over whether this marks regime change, a distraction from other U.S. political issues, or the start of a prolonged conflict, with some users comparing it to the Noriega capture in Panama.
  • Commentators are also arguing over international law, congressional authorization, and whether forcibly removing a sitting head of state will destabilize Venezuela and the broader region.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.