U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Major Operation

The United States has successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a significant military operation. This event has been met with celebration among some Venezuelan expatriates, including Geraldine Pacheco, a refugee residing in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Pacheco expressed her relief, stating, “This was the help we were waiting to get out of the reparation and dictatorship in our country.”

Pacheco arrived in Canada in 2024 with her husband and two young children through a humanitarian aid visa. She described the situation in Venezuela as dire, with her family members still living under oppressive conditions. “They are happy about what is happening because they want to live in a free Venezuela. Right now, they live with fears, repression… and no food, no supplies,” she shared with CBC News.

Details of the Operation

On January 3, 2026, the U.S. conducted a “large-scale strike” that resulted in the capture of Maduro and Flores while they were at their residence within the Fort Tiuna military installation in Caracas. This operation follows months of intensified pressure from Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the success of the operation on social media shortly after it occurred.

The Venezuelan ruling party leader, Nahum Fernández, condemned the operation, describing it as a “kidnapping” of the president and first lady. Following their capture, both Maduro and Flores were indicted in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stating they would soon face justice in America.

Trump emphasized the significance of the operation, declaring it the most direct U.S. intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. Multiple explosions were reported in Caracas, with accusations from Maduro’s government of attacks on civilian and military installations, labeling the incident an “imperialist attack.”

International Reactions and Support for Venezuelans

In light of these events, Pacheco expressed hope for a restoration of democracy in Venezuela. “We are very happy because it is an opportunity to restore democracy in our country and to remove the corrupt people who run drug cartels, were killers, did not respect humanity, human rights and kept people living under repression and hunger,” she stated.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand released a statement reaffirming Canada’s support for the Venezuelan people. “We have refused to recognize any legitimacy of the Maduro regime and opposed its repression of the Venezuelan people,” she said. Canada closed its embassy in Venezuela in 2019 and has consistently rejected Maduro’s government.

During a news conference, Trump praised the actions of U.S. forces and reiterated the commitment to lead Venezuela until a “proper transition can take place.” He conveyed optimism for Venezuela’s future, stating, “We know that it will take time for Venezuela to experience change, but it will become a global economic and tourism power again.”

For Venezuelans like Pacheco, the hope for a free and democratic future is palpable. “This is what all Venezuelans hope for,” she concluded, embodying the aspirations of many who have fled the turmoil of their homeland.