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Maduro Captured in New York, Trump Announces U.S. Control of Venezuela’s Oil

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Capture and Transfer to Brooklyn Detention Center The U.S. operation seized President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores in Caracas on January 3, 2026, then flew them to Stewart Air National Guard Base before a helicopter moved them to Manhattan and finally to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where they are being held pending federal charges [1][2]. Prosecutors plan to file drug‑ and weapons‑related counts in the Southern District of New York, citing the couple’s arrival on U.S. soil as venue justification [1][2]. Large police and federal contingents escorted the pair, and crowds of Venezuelan supporters gathered outside the detention facility [1].

Trump Declares U.S. Administration of Venezuelan Oil President Donald Trump announced that the United States will “run” Venezuela indefinitely, overseeing a transition while seizing the nation’s oil reserves and directing American firms to invest billions in refurbishing the heavy, sour crude infrastructure [1][2][3][4]. He said U.S. troops would protect oil facilities during the transition, framing the move as essential for regional security and economic revival [3][4]. No timeline or detailed governance structure was provided, leaving the scope of the U.S. role ambiguous [3].

Federal Indictment Expands to State‑Sponsored Drug Network The Department of Justice unsealed a new indictment charging Maduro, Flores, and Maduro’s son with operating a state‑backed drug trafficking organization that moved large quantities of cocaine [4]. The charges add conspiracy to distribute narcotics and weapons offenses to earlier allegations, and prosecutors are weighing whether to try the case in Manhattan federal court [1][2]. The indictment underscores the administration’s strategy of coupling legal action with the broader political takeover [4].

Delcy Rodríguez Assumes Acting Presidency Amid Kidnapping Claims Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the powers of acting president during Maduro’s “temporary absence,” asserting continuity of governance [1]. Rodríguez denounced the capture as an illegal kidnapping, demanded immediate release, and proclaimed Maduro remains the legitimate president, threatening a state of emergency [2][3]. Her statements contrast sharply with Trump’s invitation to cooperate with her on the transition [1].

Protests and Diplomatic Reactions Highlight Regional Divide Demonstrations erupted in Washington, New York, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, with participants waving Venezuelan flags and voicing both support for the capture and concerns about a U.S.‑driven war [1][2]. Venezuelan diaspora communities celebrated in Doral, Florida, and Madrid, while also expressing anxiety for relatives still in Venezuela [3]. Latin American leaders offered mixed responses: Argentina’s Milei welcomed the move, Cuba’s Díaz‑Canel condemned it as criminal, and Mexico’s Sheinbaum warned it violated UN Charter principles [4].

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Timeline

Jan 2‑3, 2026 – US elite forces conduct an overnight raid in Caracas, dragging President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores from their bedroom and seizing them; they are flown to Stewart Air National Guard Base and then to New York for processing [3][4].

Jan 3, 2026 – Maduro and Flores arrive at Stewart Air National Guard Base, are transferred by helicopter to Manhattan, and are taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where a large police presence escorts them while crowds of Venezuelan expatriates gather outside the facility [1][2][3].

Jan 3, 2026 – The Venezuelan Supreme Court orders Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the powers and duties of acting president, citing Maduro’s temporary absence as justification for continuity of governance [1].

Jan 3, 2026 – President Donald Trump declares, “the United States will ‘run the country’,” vows to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves, recruit American firms to invest billions, and keep U.S. troops on site to protect oil infrastructure, framing the move as a “judicious transition” [3][4][1].

Jan 3, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Justice unseals a new indictment charging Maduro, Flores, and their son with operating “state‑sponsored gangs” that trafficked cocaine, expanding on earlier drug‑trafficking indictments [4].

Jan 3, 2026 – Protests erupt in major U.S. cities (Washington, New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles) with Venezuelan flags; demonstrators both celebrate the capture and warn against a war‑driven oil intervention, reflecting a split public mood [1][2].

Jan 3, 2026 – The Federal Aviation Administration restricts civilian flights over Puerto Rico and the Caribbean due to ongoing military activity linked to the operation, allowing only military and authorized flights [3].

Jan 3, 2026 – Vice President Delcy Rodríguez condemns the raid as a “kidnapping” and a violation of international law, demanding immediate release of Maduro and Flores and signaling a potential state of emergency [2].

Jan 3, 2026 – Opposition leader María Corina Machado calls for the installation of Edmundo González Urrutia as interim leader and urges the international community to pursue a democratic transition, while Venezuela’s foreign ministry insists Maduro remains the legitimate president [4].

Jan 3, 2026 – Regional leaders issue mixed reactions: Argentine President Javier Milei welcomes the capture, Cuban President Díaz‑Canel condemns it as criminal, and Mexico’s President Sheinbaum denounces it as a breach of the UN Charter, illustrating a divided Latin American response [4].

Jan 10, 2026 (expected) – Federal prosecutors plan to bring drug and weapons charges against Maduro in Manhattan federal court, likely in the Southern District of New York, as the case proceeds to arraignment next week [1][2].

2026 (future) – Trump’s administration outlines a long‑term plan to “run Venezuela indefinitely,” seize its oil reserves, and channel billions of dollars of U.S. investment into rebuilding the collapsed oil sector, though no timeline for transition or withdrawal is provided [3][4].

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