On January 3, 2026, U.S. military forces executed a highly successful operation deep inside Caracas that resulted in the capture and subsequent extradition of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to New York to face longstanding narcoterrorism charges. The mission, codenamed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” was confirmed by President Donald J. Trump as a decisive enforcement of U.S. law and a significant step in confronting international drug trafficking and weapons violations.

According to a detailed hour-by-hour timeline provided by Fox & Friends, the raid was carried out by U.S. special operations forces, including elite Delta Force units, in coordination with intelligence and support elements. The operation unfolded with precision planning, rapid execution at the designated target locations in Caracas, and secure extraction to U.S. custody.

President Trump, in an address following the mission’s completion, emphasized the legality and necessity of the action. Maduro faces a U.S. indictment in New York for cocaine trafficking and violations of U.S. weapons laws. Trump cited the Venezuelan leader’s role in transnational narcoterrorism and the persistent erosion of democratic processes in Venezuela — including documented election fraud in 2024 — as part of the justification for the operation.

The administration’s public timeline depicts a clear sequence of events: U.S. forces inserted into the operational area under cover of darkness, secured key objectives with minimal collateral impact, apprehended Maduro and Flores, and then moved them swiftly to the USS Iwo Jima. From that secure platform, both were transported to the United States to begin legal proceedings.

Supporters of the action point to its adherence to U.S. law and international precedents for self-defense, noting that the Trump Administration has framed the operation under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognizes inherent rights of self-defense in the face of ongoing threats. Critics have raised questions about the operation’s compatibility with international norms and Venezuelan sovereignty; however, administration officials maintain that longstanding threats to regional stability and direct links to criminal networks necessitated decisive enforcement action.

The successful completion of “Operation Absolute Resolve” marks a hallmark achievement for the Trump Administration’s approach to combating international narcoterrorism and reaffirming the rule of law. The extradition of Maduro and Flores to face judicial proceedings in New York underscores a commitment to accountability for leaders who facilitate transnational crime. The world will now watch as U.S. courts begin the legal process against one of the most controversial figures in modern Venezuelan politics.