CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was taken into U.S. custody following a covert nighttime operation. The mission, described by President Donald Trump as a turning point, aims to stabilize Venezuela under American oversight and utilize its rich oil resources for international trade.

Maduro touched down Saturday at a restricted airfield in New York, hours after he and his wife, Cilia Flores, were extracted from a secured facility in Caracas. The U.S. accuses them both of being involved in a wide-reaching narco-terrorism operation. Venezuela’s leadership has condemned the event as an act of foreign aggression.

This high-profile mission marked a major escalation in the Trump administration’s strategy toward Venezuela, following months of clandestine planning. Legal observers questioned the legitimacy of such an operation conducted without input from Congress. Meanwhile, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez appealed for Maduro’s release, insisting he remains Venezuela’s lawful head of state. The nation’s top court went on to appoint her as interim leader.

Rodriguez reported casualties on the Venezuelan side, though numbers were not provided. Trump acknowledged injuries among U.S. personnel but said no American lives were lost.

In a follow-up press conference, Trump outlined intentions to rehabilitate Venezuela’s oil sector and begin large-scale exports, using the situation to strengthen U.S. presence in the region.

Trump: U.S. to Oversee Venezuela

The removal of Maduro was portrayed by Trump officials as a means to reduce the influx of illegal drugs into the U.S. The president also emphasized opportunities for broader control over Venezuelan governance and oil production.

Trump declared that the U.S. is now guiding Venezuelan leadership, despite the absence of concrete evidence on the ground. State-run media in Caracas continued airing content supportive of Maduro, including live protests.

He stated that the U.S. would manage the country until a secure and orderly handover of power was possible and dismissed opposition leader María Corina Machado as lacking public trust and political legitimacy.

“We’ll lead Venezuela until a proper transition can occur,” Trump said at a press briefing. He called the operation “a remarkable success” and issued a warning to threats against American interests.

Maduro and other senior officials had previously been indicted in 2020 for their role in a drug-related conspiracy. A newer indictment, issued Saturday, accused Maduro's regime of being a corrupt system traffickers abused to flood the U.S. with narcotics.

In anticipation of a military strike, U.S. forces had been quietly positioned nearby, conducting maritime operations aimed at disrupting smuggling routes. A recent CIA-led drone attack targeted a suspected cartel facility — the first known strike on Venezuelan territory since the campaign began in September.

Nighttime Raid

The operation took place early Saturday, nearly four decades after the U.S. captured Panama’s Manuel Noriega in a similar intervention. According to Trump, the assault involved disabling large portions of Caracas’s power before the extraction exercises began.

Gen. Dan Caine, head of the Joint Chiefs, said U.S. teams had practiced for months and knew high levels of detail about Maduro’s routines, residences, and habits — down to his pets and wardrobe.

“Our focus is precision: we train relentlessly not just to succeed, but to eliminate any chance of failure,” said Caine.

Multiple blasts echoed across Caracas during the incursion, as aircraft flew at low altitudes. Venezuelan officials accused the U.S. of targeting both military and civilian installations and called on residents to protest. The explosions startled citizens who flooded the streets, some capturing and sharing footage online.

According to the Venezuelan constitution, Rodriguez would assume leadership in Maduro’s absence. Initially, she declined to take power, but later complied after a court directive named her acting president.

National Guard forces deployed armored vehicles to protect the Miraflores presidential palace in the capital on Saturday. The sight marked a tense moment in the hours following Maduro’s removal.

Caracas Responds

Venezuela’s ruling party has retained power since Hugo Chávez assumed office in 1999, pledging radical reforms for the country’s poor. Maduro took over following Chávez’s death in 2013. His reelection in 2018 was widely dismissed as illegitimate due to the exclusion of opposition parties. In 2024, electoral authorities again declared Maduro the winner, despite evidence of significant opposition support.

Following news of his detention, Maduro loyalists gathered downtown to express support. Some wept and embraced in the streets, mourning what they saw as the unjust removal of their leader.

“Stay strong, Maduro! Your people are with you,” chanted a demonstrator during a rally in front of city hall. Mayor Carmen Meléndez was among those publicly demanding Maduro’s return.

Other districts in the capital remained unusually quiet. Residents avoided public spaces amid concern over further unrest.

“Everyone’s on edge,” said Noris Prada, sitting in silence on a deserted avenue and scrolling through news updates. “Nobody slept last night.”

In the city of Doral, Florida — home to a large Venezuelan community — celebrants waved flags, danced, and shouted for freedom in the streets, despite events unfolding thousands of miles away.

Legal Questions Arise

Legal authorities and international observers raised concerns over the legitimacy of the U.S. action. “There may be violations of international law involved with Maduro’s capture,” said analyst Ilan Katz.

In response, the United Nations Security Council plans a special session on Monday to discuss recent U.S. operations in Venezuela. The meeting comes after a request from Colombia, a neighboring country with interests in the outcome.

American lawmakers from across the political spectrum raised alarms about the military actions. The use of U.S. force in the region lacks formal authorization from Congress.

Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, a senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, requested a thorough briefing on both the legal framework and overall objectives of the action in Venezuela.

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This article was reported by Toropin and Tucker in Washington, with assistance from journalists in Caracas, New York, and New Jersey.