U.S. Capture of Nicolás Maduro: Developments as of January 3, 2026

By RockenRoll.com

On January 3, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces conducted a large-scale military strike in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

The operation involved strikes on military sites in Caracas, including Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex, and La Carlota airfield, with reports of explosions, low-flying aircraft, smoke, fires, and power outages in parts of the city.

Trump stated that Maduro and his wife were captured by U.S. Army Delta Force operators and flown out of the country in coordination with U.S. law enforcement.

Nicolás Maduro, widely regarded as an illegitimate leader after stealing the 2024 presidential election, is now in U.S. custody and is expected to face U.S. charges related to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.

In March 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted Maduro on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and related weapons offenses. The indictment alleges that Maduro participated in a conspiracy involving the Cartel de los Soles and the FARC to send tons of cocaine to the United States, using cocaine trafficking to enrich himself and undermine U.S. interests. A reward for information leading to his arrest was increased to up to $50 million.

The United States and multiple countries do not recognize Maduro’s leadership and instead recognize opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate winner and president-elect of the July 2024 election.

Edmundo González Urrutia, the rightful president of Venezuela, remains in exile following threats from the Maduro regime after the stolen election. No confirmed location was reported immediately following the events of January 3, 2026, though he had been active in international engagements prior to the operation.

Under Venezuela’s constitution, in Maduro’s absence, executive power transfers to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.

Reports from Venezuelan communities and opposition supporters indicate widespread celebrations in the streets in response to the removal of the illegitimate Maduro regime.

This marks a historic moment for the Venezuelan people regaining control of their country after years of crisis under Maduro’s illegitimate rule.

The situation remains fluid and ongoing.

The situation continues to develop rapidly.