President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in a U.S. operation and are being transported to New York, where they face indictments.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Trump told Fox News the couple “will be heading to New York, they were indicted in New York,” and said they had been flown out by helicopter as part of the operation.
U.S. officials have since announced criminal charges against Mr. Maduro, including allegations tied to drug trafficking and terrorism, and said the arrests followed a coordinated military and law-enforcement action in Caracas.
The dramatic move marks a sharp escalation in U.S. policy toward the Maduro government and has prompted immediate global reaction.
Lawmakers and foreign governments offered mixed responses, with supporters hailing the operation and critics warning about legal and diplomatic consequences.
Details of the raid remain scarce as officials continue to release information; authorities said the operation involved precision strikes and the use of special forces alongside law enforcement teams.
Further briefings are expected from the White House.