U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured in a targeted operation in Venezuela and transferred to the United States. U.S. officials said no American troops were killed, though some injuries were reported.

Maduro arrived at a detention facility in New York late Saturday and is expected to face federal charges tied to alleged drug trafficking and links to criminal gangs designated as terrorist organizations—claims he has repeatedly denied. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed a superseding indictment, building on charges first filed in 2020.

Trump said the action was meant to signal that Washington would no longer tolerate defiance from hostile regimes. He added that the U.S. is prepared for a “second wave” of strikes against remaining Maduro loyalists if necessary.

While Trump suggested American companies could be heavily involved in rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, he offered no details on broader reconstruction or a post-Maduro governance plan. The move has unsettled regional neighbors, raising concerns about the precedent of direct U.S. military intervention.

In Caracas, reactions began to surface from senior officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, as Venezuela braces for political uncertainty amid heightened international scrutiny.