Nicolás Maduro was reported captured on January 3, 2026, during a U.S. military operation in Venezuela.

Quick Scoop: Core Facts

  • Multiple major outlets report that U.S. forces carried out a coordinated operation in Venezuela in the early hours of January 3, 2026.
  • U.S. officials and President Donald Trump stated that Maduro was detained, removed from Venezuela, and taken into U.S. custody that same day.
  • The broader strikes and the capture are described as part of “Operation Absolute Resolve,” involving extensive air operations and special forces.

Timing Details

  • The operation began with airstrikes around 2:00 a.m. local time in Venezuela on January 3, 2026.
  • Maduro was apprehended during or shortly after this raid as he attempted to reach a fortified safe room in Caracas, then flown out of the country within hours.
  • Public confirmation came later on January 3, when Trump announced that Maduro and his wife were in U.S. custody.

How It’s Being Described

  • U.S. sources frame the action as enforcing criminal charges (including drug-trafficking–related allegations) rather than a classic “regime change” invasion.
  • Venezuelan government figures have condemned the raid as a violation of sovereignty and disputed aspects of the U.S. account, including casualty numbers and circumstances.
  • Some analysts and commentators note that independent on-the-ground verification from inside Venezuela is still limited due to information controls and chaos after the strikes.

Forum and Social Buzz

  • Online forums and social media lit up with discussion as soon as images of Maduro in custody, shared via Trump’s Truth Social, began circulating.
  • Discussions range from geopolitical stakes and legality to speculation about Venezuela’s oil sector, markets, and how long U.S. “management” of the country might last.

Bottom Line

  • If the question is “when was Maduro captured,” the answer, per current public reporting, is: January 3, 2026 , during a U.S. military operation commonly referred to as Operation Absolute Resolve.

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