Maduro in US Custody: Handcuffed at DEA HQ, Happy New Year

January 4, 2026

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was brought to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office in New York City on Sunday after being captured during a bold U.S. military operation in Venezuela. Video footage released by U.S. officials shows Maduro in handcuffs and escorted by agents as he entered the DEA facility.<

#PATÉTICO. “Happy new year”, Nicolás Maduro llegó a las instalaciones de la DEA dándole el Feliz Año a los agentes que lo trasladaron a Nueva York. Ya está en el Brooklyn Detention Center dónde lo van a procesar y a leerle los cargos. pic.twitter.com/qbmW0ZmdlY

— Colombia Oscura (@ColombiaOscura) January 4, 2026

/p>

First Words: ‘Happy New Year, Good Night’

In the clip circulating widely online, Maduro, clad in casual clothing, was seen walking through a DEA hallway and was heard saying “good night” and “Happy New Year” to the officials around him his first recorded comments since arriving in U.S. custody.

Capture During Night Raids in Caracas

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody during a surprise operation by U.S. forces in Caracas earlier in the weekend. The raid, part of broader military action, resulted in explosions and heavy activity in and around Venezuela’s capital.

Facing Drug and Narco-Terrorism Charges

U.S. authorities have indicted Maduro and his wife on charges including narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, possession of weapons, and related conspiracies in the Southern District of New York. They were transported from Venezuela to New York to face federal prosecution and are expected to make a court appearance soon.

Processing at DEA and Transfer to Detention

After arriving at the DEA office, Maduro underwent processing, including fingerprinting and intake procedures, before being moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn where he awaits further legal proceedings.

International Reaction and Domestic Turmoil

The unprecedented capture has drawn global attention, with many countries expressing concern over sovereignty and international law, while some Venezuelan expatriate communities in the U.S. celebrated outside the detention facility.