At a Glance
- U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores on Jan 3 2026.
- The strike followed a buildup of 6,000 sailors, 12,000 troops and 35 maritime strikes that killed 115 people.
- Maduro faces indictment in New York for narco-terrorism conspiracy, with Flores now also charged.
This operation marks the first time the United States has used force to capture a sitting head of state, following a decade-long buildup of military action against Venezuelan drug cartels.
The Capture and Legal Fallout
On Jan 3 2026 the U.S. conducted a large-scale strike that captured Maduro and Flores, who were flown out of Venezuela. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced they will face charges after an indictment in New York. Maduro was previously indicted in 2020 on narco-terrorism conspiracy charges; Flores‘ indictment was not previously known.
- Capture by U.S. forces in Caracas
- Indictments filed in New York
- Maduro previously indicted 2020
- Flores newly charged
Background: A Decade of Military Action
Since Jan 20 2025, President Donald Trump designated drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, built up a fleet of three destroyers, three amphibious assault ships and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, and deployed 6,000 sailors and 12,000 troops. The campaign included 35 strikes that killed 115 people, and Senate Republicans voted down a war-powers resolution. On Dec 10 2025 the U.S. seized an oil tanker, and sanctions were imposed on four companies in the Venezuelan oil sector.
| Date | Event | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 20 2025 | Executive order designating cartels as FTOs | Legal framework for action |
| Aug 19 2025 | Deployment of destroyers | Naval buildup |
| Sep 2 2025 | First maritime strike | 1 death |
| Oct 2 2025 | Declared armed conflict with cartels | War-like status |
| Dec 10 2025 | Oil tanker seized | Economic pressure |
| Jan 3 2026 | Capture of Maduro & Flores | Political shift |
Key Takeaways
- U.S. used force to capture Maduro and Flores in Caracas.
- The operation followed 35 strikes that killed 115 people.
- Both leaders will face charges in New York.
This unprecedented action underscores the U.S. commitment to combating drug cartels and signals a new era of enforcement against Venezuelan leadership.
