New York, Jan 04 (V7N) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was transported to the United States and taken into custody following a high-profile operation, landing at Stuart Air National Guard Base, approximately 70 kilometers from New York City, on Saturday evening Eastern Time. The aircraft carrying Maduro touched down around 5:00 PM.

Immediately after landing, he was transferred under heavy security to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Reports indicate that from there, he will face charges in a Manhattan federal court relating to alleged drug trafficking and arms smuggling.

According to sources, Maduro was first taken by helicopter to the West Side Heliport in Manhattan, and from there to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) headquarters for initial legal processing before being moved to the Brooklyn detention facility. The prison is known for holding high-profile detainees, including pop star R. Kelly, Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and recently, rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Footage released by U.S. media showed FBI personnel in uniform standing by as Maduro exited the aircraft. This marked his first public appearance in New York roughly 15 hours after being removed from the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Multiple explosions were reported in Caracas early Saturday morning, and aircraft were seen flying at very low altitudes. The Venezuelan government had previously accused the United States of preparing civilian and military attacks, calling the operation an act of “imperialist aggression.” Following the events, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stated that she was unaware of the president and first lady’s location, adding that she would assume office according to law if proof of their survival could not be confirmed.

The U.S. President Donald Trump, who initiated legal proceedings against Maduro during his first term in 2020 in the Southern District Court of New York for cocaine import conspiracy, confirmed in a social media post that Maduro, along with his spouse, had been captured and removed from Venezuela. He emphasized that the operation was conducted jointly with U.S. law enforcement agencies and deemed successful.

This development marks a dramatic escalation in U.S.-Venezuela relations, raising questions about international law, national sovereignty, and regional stability in Latin America. Maduro’s removal and detention are likely to have far-reaching political, economic, and security implications for Venezuela and the broader region.

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