Nicolás Maduro was captured in a surprise U.S. special operations raid on his compound in Caracas as part of a broader American military strike against Venezuela’s leadership.

Quick Scoop

  • U.S. elite forces (including Delta Force and FBI tactical units) flew into Caracas by helicopter during a coordinated overnight operation, using wider airstrikes and cyberattacks to blind Venezuelan defenses.
  • The mission, code‑named Operation Absolute Resolve , had been prepared for months, with U.S. intelligence tracking Maduro’s daily routines and even building a full‑scale mock‑up of his fortified residence to rehearse the raid.
  • Shortly before the raid, President Donald Trump gave final authorization from the U.S., after having previously pressed Maduro privately to resign and leave power voluntarily.

How the raid unfolded

  • After Trump’s green light late at night, U.S. aircraft launched from multiple bases around the region to hit Venezuelan air defenses and key military sites while also providing cover for low‑flying helicopters heading to Caracas.
  • U.S. cyber units reportedly disrupted systems in Caracas, including parts of the power grid and communications, to give the assault teams maximum surprise and to limit the Venezuelan military’s ability to coordinate a response.
  • Helicopters brought in the assault force, which moved on Maduro’s heavily fortified compound—described as a “military fortress”—using specialized breaching gear like high‑powered blowtorches for any steel barriers or safe‑room doors.

The moment Maduro was captured

  • When the team broke into the residence, Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were reportedly caught off‑guard; Maduro tried to flee toward a steel safe room but did not reach it in time.
  • A brief firefight and localized explosions were reported around major military installations in Caracas, but U.S. officials have emphasized that the capture itself was relatively quick once the forces reached the inner compound.
  • Maduro and his wife then surrendered and were taken into custody , restrained, and moved by helicopter to a secure location before being flown out of Venezuela.

Aftermath and latest status

  • Trump soon announced publicly that the U.S. had successfully carried out a large‑scale strike and that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country, confirming images that then circulated widely on social media and forums.
  • Maduro was transported to New York—arriving at Stewart Air National Guard Base—then moved to a detention facility in New York City to face U.S. federal charges tied to drug trafficking and alleged work with terrorist‑designated gangs, accusations he continues to deny.
  • Online, the topic “how did Maduro get captured” quickly became a trending discussion point, with debates over the legality of the operation, its impact on Venezuela’s future, and whether such cross‑border raids set a precedent for handling authoritarian leaders.

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