[TSGL News] Reports say Trump administration captured Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and flew him to New York; UN Security Council scrutinizes legality
New York / United Nations / Caracas | Jan 5, 2026 | Times Square Global Live (TSGL)
Multiple outlets citing U.S. officials report that U.S. forces carried out a late-night operation in Caracas on Jan. 3 that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The pair were transferred to New York to face federal charges tied to narcotics and terrorism-related allegations. The operation has triggered intense international backlash and prompted an emergency debate at the U.N. Security Council over sovereignty, use of force, and precedent.
Reuters details describe a combined strike-and-raid sequence culminating in Maduro’s surrender and evacuation, with reporting that he was moved via U.S. military assets to a U.S. Navy ship and then flown to New York.
AP reports Maduro pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court, called himself a “kidnapped” president, and his counsel signaled challenges to the legality of the “military abduction,” including potential immunity arguments.
Reuters reports Trump publicly said the U.S. would “run” Venezuela temporarily—language that legal experts say complicates the claim this was purely a law-enforcement mission.
At the U.N., Washington cited Article 51 self-defense; multiple legal experts quoted by Reuters dispute that justification absent Security Council authorization or Venezuelan consent.
Switzerland announced a four-year freeze on assets linked to Maduro and associates (37 people), citing risk of illicit outflows amid volatility.
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