Maduro detained in New York Jail after Dramatic US Operation

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was being held in a New York jail on Sunday following a dramatic US military operation that saw him removed from power and flown out of the country amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

The arrest followed early-morning air strikes on Caracas on Saturday, as US commandos carried out what President Donald Trump described as a large-scale operation against the Venezuelan leadership. Maduro and his wife were captured during the raid and transported to New York, where they are expected to face charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offences.

Video footage shared by the White House showed the 63-year-old leader handcuffed and wearing sandals as he was escorted by federal agents through a US Drug Enforcement Administration facility in Manhattan. In the clip, Maduro was heard saying, “Good night, happy new year,” in English.

Maduro has ruled Venezuela for more than a decade, maintaining power through elections widely criticised by international observers. He succeeded former president Hugo Chávez and presided over years of political repression and economic collapse that forced an estimated eight million Venezuelans to flee the country.

News of his detention sparked celebrations among Venezuelans abroad, with gatherings reported in cities including Madrid, Miami and Santiago. In Caracas, reactions were more subdued. Some residents expressed relief, while others voiced anxiety over the uncertainty surrounding the country’s future.

US President Trump said he was appointing members of his cabinet to oversee a transition but offered few details. He appeared to rule out an immediate handover to opposition figures, suggesting instead that the United States could work with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez. However, Rodríguez rejected that possibility, demanded Maduro’s release and vowed to defend Venezuela.

Later on Saturday, Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered Rodríguez to assume presidential powers in an acting capacity, further complicating an already fluid situation. Trump, however, indicated that US involvement would not be brief, saying American forces would remain until what he described as a “proper transition” takes place.

The operation has also drawn renewed attention to Venezuela’s vast oil wealth. Trump openly signalled US interest in the country’s crude reserves, stating that major American oil companies would invest billions of dollars to rehabilitate infrastructure and expand production. Venezuela holds about 17 percent of global oil reserves but currently produces less than one million barrels per day, much of which is sold on the black market.

According to US military officials, the assault involved around 150 aircraft and months of intelligence gathering on Maduro’s movements and security. General Dan Caine said the president and his wife surrendered without resistance and that no US personnel were killed. Venezuelan authorities have yet to release casualty figures, although Trump claimed that several foreign security operatives attached to Maduro were killed.

International reaction was swift and divided. Allies of Caracas, including China, Russia and Iran, condemned the operation, while concerns were also raised by US partners in Europe. China called for Maduro’s immediate release, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over what he said appeared to be a breach of international law.

At Venezuela’s request, the United Nations Security Council is scheduled to convene an emergency meeting to discuss the unfolding crisis, as the future governance of the oil-rich nation remains uncertain.