New York – Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, arrived in the United States on January 3, 2026, following their capture in a U.S. military operation in Caracas. The couple was flown to Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, before being transported by helicopter to Manhattan for processing and then to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, where they are being held pending court proceedings on narco-terrorism and drug-trafficking charges.
Footage and images circulated widely on social media and U.S. media outlets showed the transfer process under heavy security. Aerial and ground videos captured Maduro and Flores being escorted off the plane at Stewart base by federal agents, including those from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Subsequent helicopter footage depicted their arrival at the Westside Heliport (also referred to as West 30th Street Heliport) in Manhattan, followed by a motorcade to the MDC in Brooklyn.
One notable video, shared by the White House's official Rapid Response account (@RapidResponse47) on X with the caption "Perp walked," showed Maduro—without Flores—walking down a hallway inside DEA offices in lower Manhattan. The carpet in the hallway was marked "DEA NYD," and Maduro, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and hat, appeared handcuffed while flanked by DEA agents. He was heard saying "Goodnight" and "Happy New Year" in English, followed by a self-correction in Spanish.
Separate social media footage, aired by U.S. outlets, depicted Maduro and Flores emerging from an armored vehicle at the MDC, with Maduro reportedly limping in one clip but walking normally in others. Bystanders gathered outside the facility, some cheering with Venezuelan and American flags.
The arrival capped a rapid sequence after Operation Absolute Resolve, announced by President Donald Trump early Saturday. Maduro and Flores were extracted from their residence in Caracas amid airstrikes, initially held aboard the USS Iwo Jima, and then flown north. A superseding indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York added weapons charges to prior 2020 accusations of leading a cocaine trafficking network known as the "Cartel de los Soles."
Trump stated the U.S. would temporarily oversee Venezuela until a "safe, proper, and judicious transition," emphasizing American companies' role in restoring oil infrastructure. Critics, including international leaders and legal experts, have raised concerns over violations of international law, lack of congressional authorization, and risks of regional destabilization.
The MDC Brooklyn, notorious for housing high-profile figures like Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Sean "Diddy" Combs, has faced scrutiny for conditions but is equipped for high-security detainees. Maduro's arraignment could occur as early as Monday, January 5, 2026.
Venezuelan acting leader Delcy Rodríguez condemned the transfer as a "kidnapping," demanding proof of life and immediate release. Global reactions remain divided, with condemnations from allies like China and Russia contrasting celebrations from U.S.-aligned governments.
As proceedings loom, the case marks a historic extradition-like capture of a sitting head of state, evoking comparisons to past U.S. interventions while highlighting ongoing debates over sovereignty and justice.
