Who is Nicolás Maduro? Has President of Venezuela Been Arrested? Who is Nicolás Maduro? Has President of Venezuela Been Arrested?
President Nicolás Maduro Arrested or Not? What We Really Know After Blasts in Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro Arrested or Not? What We Really Know After Blasts in Venezuela
Maduro captured by Army's Delta Force
Maduro captured by Army's Delta Force

The reported capture followed a night of explosions, air activity, and power outages that shook Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, raising alarm across the country and fueling speculation of a major escalation between the United States and Venezuela. U.S. officials told CBS News that Maduro was detained during the early morning hours and flown out of Venezuela shortly afterward. His wife, Cilia Flores, was also reportedly taken into custody.

President Donald Trump publicly confirmed the claim in a Truth Social post, stating that Maduro and his wife were “captured and flown out of the country” as part of what he described as a “large-scale strike” against the Venezuelan government. Trump said U.S. law enforcement agencies were involved in the operation but did not specify which agencies or the legal framework used. He announced that additional details would be provided during a press conference later Saturday at Mar-a-Lago.

Read more: Americans in Venezuela: No Evacuations, Shelter in Place

Delta Force, formally known as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta, is tasked with the most sensitive U.S. counterterrorism missions. The unit previously led the 2019 raid that killed former Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, highlighting the significance of the reported operation.

U.S. Claims Maduro Captured by Elite Delta Force as Venezuela Denies Removal of President
Americans in Venezuela to shelter in place

The Venezuelan government has not confirmed Maduro’s capture. Instead, officials in Caracas accused the United States of launching an illegal military attack and declared a heightened state of national alert. Venezuelan state media continued to broadcast statements attributed to Maduro, though the timing and authenticity of those messages could not be independently verified.

Maduro has been indicted in U.S. federal court since 2020 on charges related to alleged narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, accusations he has consistently denied.

U.S. Claims Maduro Captured by Elite Delta Force as Venezuela Denies Removal of President
Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had "captured and flown out of the Country."

As of Saturday, no independent verification from international organizations or third-party governments has confirmed Maduro’s detention. Analysts caution that the situation remains fluid, with potentially far-reaching consequences for regional stability, global energy markets, and U.S.–Latin America relations.

Further official briefings are expected later today.