The first video of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arriving in the United States surfaced on Saturday, showing him handcuffed and escorted by US officials as he stepped off a helicopter at New York’s Stewart Airport.
In a video circulating online, Maduro is seen handcuffed and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt as he walks down a hallway. In the footage, he can be heard saying “good night” and “Happy New Year” to the officials.
BREAKING: Maduro taken to the DEA office in New Yorkpic.twitter.com/Dvz6xRKdB9
— Jackson Hinkle (@jacksonhinklle) January 4, 2026
Maduro Captured By US
Maduro’s arrival followed his capture earlier on January 3 in what US officials described as a bold, high-risk military operation. The operation reportedly lasted less than 30 minutes and unfolded amid explosions in Caracas and other locations, as elite Delta Force units carried out a pre-dawn raid to take Maduro into custody and transport him by US helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima at an undisclosed location in the Caribbean Sea.
From the naval vessel, Maduro was transferred to the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, before being flown to Stewart Air Force Base in New York’s Orange County. He was later transported by helicopter to New York City, where the first visuals of his arrival emerged.
US Charges Maduro With Narco-Terrorism
Meanwhile, a US court has formally charged the Venezuelan leader with multiple offences, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and firearms-related crimes. The indictment, made public by US Attorney General Pam Bondi, was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
According to the charges, Maduro is accused of using his position of power in Venezuela over more than two decades to facilitate the transport of massive quantities of cocaine into the United States. Prosecutors allege he protected drug traffickers through the use of Venezuelan diplomatic passports, oversaw multi-ton cocaine shipments by air and sea, and provided armed security for trafficking operations. The indictment also references kidnappings, bribery and acts of violence aimed at maintaining control over drug-smuggling routes.
Delcy Rodriguez Made Venezuelan Interim President
Following Maduro’s capture, the Venezuelan Supreme Court on Saturday ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the role of acting president. The court said it would review the situation to determine the legal steps required to ensure continuity of government, maintain administrative stability and safeguard the country’s sovereignty during the president’s absence.
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