Additional Coverage:
Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Arrested, Smiles with DEA Agents in NYC
Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, apprehended in Caracas alongside his wife Cilia Flores, arrived in New York City over the weekend, where he was photographed smiling and giving a thumbs-up while in DEA custody. The arrest, delayed by four days due to weather, marked a significant development in charges related to drug trafficking and illegal weaponry.
Maduro was transported from Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, to the West Side Heliport in Manhattan, before being handed over to DEA authorities for processing. Photos show a handcuffed Maduro, dressed in grey, being escorted by over a dozen federal agents.
Following his arrival, Maduro was taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a facility known for housing high-profile individuals such as Sam Bankman-Fried and Sean “Diddy” Combs. He is scheduled to appear in federal court next week.
A U.S. official confirmed no American casualties during the operation, which President Trump described as targeting a “highly guarded” and “fortress-like” hideout. However, the Venezuelan administration has claimed that Venezuelan citizens died during the strikes, though no official numbers have been released.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has called for Maduro’s release and return to Venezuela, asserting his position as the nation’s “rightful leader.”
The Metropolitan Detention Center, where Maduro is currently awaiting trial, has previously held notable inmates including Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, Ghislaine Maxwell, and R. Kelly.