Maduro appears in New York court following US capture

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York court on January 5 at noon on charges related to drug trafficking.

The couple were taken into U.S. custody on January 3 after what President Donald Trump described as a “large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader,” following months of military preparation, CBS News reports.

Speaking on January 4, Trump said the United States was now “in charge” of Venezuela and suggested that Washington would temporarily manage the country and work to “get the oil flowing.”

However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the U.S. would not directly govern Venezuela, but would instead exert influence through an “oil quarantine.” Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth added that “President Trump sets the terms” for U.S. policy toward the country.

Trump also renewed calls for a U.S. takeover of Greenland and issued a warning of potential action against Colombia, further signalling his administration’s willingness to take aggressive measures abroad.

Trump and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, oversaw the operation, which began shortly after 2 a.m. local time on January 3. Despite coming under fire, U.S. forces, including Delta Force and FBI agents, successfully secured the compound. Maduro reportedly attempted to flee to a safe room but was intercepted. One helicopter was hit, and some U.S. personnel were injured during the raid.

Trump described the mission as “perfectly executed,” emphasising U.S. control over the operation and signalling potential further actions in the region. Maduro and Flores were swiftly flown to the U.S. to face charges, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s approach to Venezuela.

By Aghakazim Guliyev