The President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained on Saturday morning in a surprise operation by the US special forces in the capital, Caracas. A video shared on the social media platform X by the White House’s official rapid response account, “Rapid Response 47,” shows Maduro being escorted by officials inside the office of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Lower Manhattan.
The 63-year-old Maduro can be seen wearing handcuffs, a black hood, and walking through a blue-carpeted corridor with “DEA NYD” printed on it. During the operation, he was also heard being greeted with “Good night” and “Happy New Year” by the officials present.
The charges against Maduro and his wife include allegations of drug trafficking, importing large quantities of cocaine into the US, and possessing illicit firearms. US officials have confirmed that the Venezuelan government will not be deterred from taking action to protect its citizens from the threat of narco-terrorism.
The US Vice President has expressed gratitude to those who expressed sympathy for the incident, saying, “We are grateful to those who have expressed their condolences for the incident at our home.” The Vice President has also thanked the special agencies for their cooperation on the matter.
The Iranian judiciary chief has warned that those responsible for the unrest in Iran will face consequences. Venezuela’s President Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, has also denied the charges against her, claiming she is innocent.
Following the US operation, the interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, has surrendered and offered to cooperate with the US. The UN Secretary-General has expressed concern about the situation in Venezuela, calling for a Security Council meeting to discuss the matter.
Meanwhile, British media has reported that the coldest night of the season was recorded in Kent, with temperatures dropping to -10.9°C in Cumbria.
The President of Colombia has reportedly said that the US team saw Maduro’s protests as a challenge to Washington’s resolve and a reason to take action. The Iranian judiciary chief has ordered those responsible for the unrest to face the law.
Iran has demanded the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. In a bizarre incident, a couple, claiming to be a trans man, has gone viral on social media, with the man, who identifies as a woman, sharing pictures and videos of their wedding.
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