Fresh Visuals Show Handcuffed Nicolas Maduro Inside US DEA Headquarters After Capture

The first official visuals of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in US custody have surfaced, showing him handcuffed and escorted by armed personnel inside the headquarters of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New York City.

The footage, released by US authorities, captures Maduro being led through a corridor after his dramatic capture during a US military operation in Venezuela over the weekend.

The video emerged hours after Maduro and his wife were flown out of Venezuela to the United States following air raids and what officials described as a swift and decisive operation that ended his grip on power.

Maduro flown to New York, faces narco-terror charges

According to the Associated Press, Maduro and his wife were transported to New York shortly after their capture and are expected to be held in federal custody. US authorities are preparing criminal proceedings linked to a Justice Department indictment that accuses the Venezuelan leader of participating in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.

Officials said the capture was carried out during an extraordinary overnight mission that concluded within hours, marking a sudden end to Maduro's rule. The operation followed months of intelligence gathering and rehearsals before being executed in under half an hour.

Trump says US will temporarily run Venezuela

Following the operation, US President Donald Trump announced that Washington would take temporary control of Venezuela to oversee a political transition. He also signalled plans to leverage the country's oil wealth.

"We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition," Trump said during a press conference, adding that the US intended to sell "large amounts" of Venezuelan oil to other nations.

Operation 'Absolute Resolve' planned for months

US officials revealed that the mission, codenamed "Absolute Resolve", had been meticulously planned and rehearsed for several months. Once initiated, the operation moved rapidly, culminating in Maduro's capture and removal from the country within a single night.

Authorities described the mission as one of the most complex actions undertaken by the US in the region in recent years, relying on precise coordination and real-time intelligence.

Venezuela Supreme Court names acting president

In Caracas, the Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court responded swiftly to the developments. The court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of acting president.

The ruling stated that Rodriguez would take over "the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the Nation." The court added that it would further deliberate to "determine the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the State, the administration of government, and the defense of sovereignty in the face of the forced absence of the President of the Republic."