Nicolás Maduro Detained in New York

Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela, along with his wife Cilia Flores, has landed in Newburgh, New York, where he will be held prior to facing charges of narco-terrorism. Their arrival follows a significant U.S. operation that captured them in Caracas early Saturday morning.

The aircraft that brought them to the U.S. belongs to the Department of Justice and touched down at Stewart International Airport just after 5 p.m. ET. Upon landing, officials from the FBI and DEA were waiting for them on the tarmac.

Video footage, albeit dark, shows Maduro stepping off the plane surrounded by numerous federal officials, and it appears he may have been shackled.

Earlier, President Donald Trump shared a picture of Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima, dressed in a gray sweatsuit and holding a water bottle.

Both Maduro and Flores were indicted in the Southern District of New York, with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announcing a $50 million reward for information leading to his capture. Maduro has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

In recent months, Trump has increased efforts against Maduro, including leading Operation Southern Spear, which involved multiple attacks on suspected drug-trafficking vessels linked to Venezuela. This operation has also bolstered U.S. military presence near the Venezuelan shoreline, designated Maduro’s regime as a terrorist organization, and resulted in the seizure of two oil tankers.

Reports indicate that Maduro could make an appearance in federal court as soon as Monday.