United States President Donald Trump
has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been captured in a U.S.-led operation.
Trump made the claim in a statement posted on his Truth Social account on Saturday, alleging that
the operation involved U.S. law enforcement agencies and resulted in the Venezuelan leader being
flown out of the country.
Trump’s Statement
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela
and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown
out of the country.This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be
a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago.”
Background to the Claim
The statement comes months after the United States government reportedly increased the reward for
information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, citing allegations of
involvement in international drug trafficking.
During Trump’s first term in office, the United States, in 2020, indicted Maduro and several senior
Venezuelan officials on charges related to narcotics trafficking and corruption.
No Official Confirmation Yet
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no independent confirmation from U.S. federal
agencies, the Venezuelan government, or international bodies regarding the alleged capture.
Trump stated that further details would be provided during a scheduled press conference at
Mar-a-Lago.
