New York, Video footage released by the White House depicts former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro being escorted in handcuffs through the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) headquarters in Manhattan, following his capture by U.S. forces in a dramatic overnight military operation.
The brief clip, posted by the White House’s Rapid Response account on X with the caption “Perp walked,” shows Maduro, dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt, walking down a blue-carpeted hallway marked “DEA NYD.” He is flanked by federal agents, with his hands cuffed in front. As he passes bystanders during processing, Maduro can be heard saying “Good night” repeatedly and “Happy New Year” in English.
Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured early Saturday in Caracas during “Operation Absolute Resolve,” a U.S.-led strike that included special forces raids and targeted explosions to neutralize defenses. President Donald Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, stating that the couple had been flown out of Venezuela aboard a Department of Justice aircraft after initial transfer to the USS Iwo Jima.
After arriving at Stewart Air National Guard Base north of New York City, Maduro was processed at the DEA’s New York division office before being transferred late Saturday to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he is being held pending arraignment.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi unsealed an indictment charging Maduro and Flores with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and related offenses in the Southern District of New York. The charges stem from long-standing allegations that Maduro oversaw a criminal network tied to drug trafficking.
The operation has drawn polarized reactions globally, with celebrations among Venezuelan expatriates in the U.S. and condemnation from allies like Russia and China, who demanded Maduro’s release. Trump stated the U.S. would temporarily “run” Venezuela during a transition period.
Maduro is expected to appear in federal court as early as Monday.