The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela early Saturday, striking targets in and around the capital and other regions as U.S. officials said President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody and removed from the country.
Explosions were reported before dawn in Caracas and nearby states, with residents describing loud blasts, low-flying aircraft and intermittent power outages. Venezuelan authorities said military and civilian areas were hit, calling the attack a violation of the nation’s sovereignty.
U.S. officials said the operation was aimed at dismantling what they described as a criminal state apparatus led by Maduro. President Donald Trump said the United States would oversee a transition process following Maduro’s removal, a statement that drew swift condemnation from Venezuela and criticism from foreign governments.
Venezuela’s government disputed U.S. claims surrounding Maduro’s capture, with senior officials demanding proof and accusing Washington of spreading disinformation amid what they called an act of aggression.
According to U.S. prosecutors, Maduro and Flores face multiple federal charges in the Southern District of New York, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and weapons-related offenses involving machine guns and destructive devices. The indictment alleges the pair used state institutions to protect and facilitate international drug trafficking networks.
Prosecutors say the alleged conspiracy involved cooperation with armed groups and drug trafficking organizations to move large quantities of cocaine through Venezuela and into the United States and Europe. They also accuse Maduro and his inner circle of using government resources, including diplomatic channels, to shield criminal activity.
Flores, a former member of Venezuela’s National Assembly, is charged alongside Maduro in the broader conspiracy. Public filings do not detail separate acts by Flores but describe her alleged role as part of the leadership structure prosecutors say directed the operation.
The case builds on years of U.S. accusations against Maduro’s government and follows earlier prosecutions tied to Venezuela’s leadership, including the 2015 arrest and later conviction of Flores’ nephews on drug trafficking charges in the United States.
International reaction was swift. Several governments, including U.S. rivals and regional allies of Venezuela, condemned the strikes as illegal under international law, while others called for restraint and diplomatic solutions to avoid further escalation in the region.
Maduro and Flores have long denied all allegations against them. Neither has been tried or convicted in the current case, and legal experts say the proceedings could take years to resolve if the defendants remain in U.S. custody.