A newly circulated video has brought global attention to the aftermath of a high-risk US operation in Venezuela, showing President Nicolas Maduro being escorted by officials of the US Drug Enforcement Administration inside the agency’s New York headquarters.

According to US authorities, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody during a surprise pre-dawn operation carried out by American special forces in Caracas. The raid reportedly took place at Fort Tiuna, a heavily guarded military complex where the couple were staying at the time.

The footage, shared by the White House’s Rapid Response 47 account on X, captures Maduro walking through a DEA corridor in lower Manhattan. Wearing a black hoodie and handcuffs, the 63-year-old leader is seen passing along a blue-carpeted hallway marked “DEA NYD.” In the clip, he is heard exchanging brief greetings with officials, including wishing them a “Happy New Year.”

Separate visuals show Maduro arriving on US soil, where he was first taken to a military installation before being transferred to New York City later the same day.

US prosecutors have charged Maduro and Flores with multiple offences, including narco-terrorism, large-scale cocaine trafficking into the United States, and possession of prohibited weapons. Following his appearance at the DEA facility, Maduro was moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a federal prison that has previously housed several high-profile inmates.

Details of the operation

The arrest was part of a classified mission dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve.” US officials said elite units, including soldiers from the Army’s Delta Force, executed the operation, completing the capture within roughly half an hour. Maduro was allegedly detained as he attempted to reach a reinforced safe room inside the compound.

American officials said the mission was preceded by months of detailed intelligence gathering. Senior military leaders disclosed that US agencies had been closely tracking Maduro’s movements, routines and security arrangements since mid-2024.

President Donald Trump later claimed the operation was rehearsed extensively, including the construction of a full-scale replica of Maduro’s residence for training purposes. Trump said he personally monitored the final stages of the mission through a live feed and described the compound as heavily fortified.

Why Washington moved against Maduro

The US administration has justified its action by accusing Maduro of leading a powerful drug trafficking network and allowing criminal groups to operate with impunity. Trump has repeatedly cited illegal narcotics, irregular migration and Venezuela’s strategic oil reserves as key concerns driving US policy.

In the lead-up to the operation, Washington had significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying major naval assets, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford. Trump had also warned publicly of potential ground action against drug cartels operating in and around Venezuela.

The United States, along with several European nations, has long questioned Maduro’s legitimacy, arguing that Venezuela’s recent elections were neither free nor fair. Caracas, however, has consistently rejected these claims. Maduro has denied any links to drug trafficking, accusing Washington of seeking regime change to gain control over Venezuela’s vast oil resources.