The X post from @Breaking911

 shows a video of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro being transported by helicopter from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn to a federal courthouse in Manhattan for his initial court appearance on January 5, 2026.Background of the EventThis follows his dramatic capture on January 3, 2026, during a U.S. military operation in Caracas, Venezuela (code-named "Operation Absolute Resolve"). U.S. special forces, including Delta Force and supported by CIA assets, seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from a fortified compound after targeted strikes disabled Venezuelan defenses. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation, framing it as part of a counter-narcotics effort, with Maduro flown to New York to face long-standing federal charges.Charges Against MaduroMaduro faces charges from a 2020 indictment (unsealed and expanded), including:Narco-terrorism conspiracy

Cocaine importation conspiracy

Possession of machine guns/destructive devices

Related conspiracies


These stem from allegations of partnering with groups like Colombia's FARC to flood the U.S. with drugs. A $50 million U.S. bounty (doubled in 2025) had been offered for his arrest.International ReactionsThe operation has sparked global controversy:Allies like Russia and China condemn it as a violation of international law

The UN Security Council debated its legality

Venezuelan opposition leaders (e.g., María Corina Machado) celebrated it as "the hour of freedom"

Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez (named acting leader), initially resisted but has signaled willingness to cooperate with the U.S.


Public Reactions on XReactions on X are mixed: some users express skepticism or humor (e.g., comparing it to a "helicopter tour" or political theater), others highlight the high security as unprecedented, and a few criticize perceived U.S. interventionism or judicial bias.This marks a historic moment, comparable to the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama and capture of Manuel Noriega, with ongoing implications for Venezuela's transition and U.S. foreign policy in Latin America.