Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is in New York City, faces narcoterrorism charges

Summary

---

Up First – NPR

Episode: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in New York City, faces narcoterrorism charges
Date: January 4, 2026
Host: Ayesha Rascoe
Guests: Ada Peralta (NPR), Greg Myre (NPR), Carrie Johnson (NPR)

---

Overview

This special Sunday episode covers the stunning capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces and his subsequent extradition to New York, where he faces federal narcoterrorism charges. The show unpacks how the surprise operation unfolded, the state of leadership in Venezuela following Maduro’s removal, reactions from Venezuelans and their diaspora, the legal and political implications for the U.S., and what happens next for both countries.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Surprise U.S. Operation to Capture Maduro

• How It Happened [02:29–02:55]:

  • CIA operatives were already inside Venezuela for months before the operation.
  • On Saturday, the U.S. deployed 150+ aircraft, striking radar and military bases.
  • Special operations teams then entered Maduro’s compound.
  • U.S. suffered no casualties, but Venezuelan officials reported some deaths.
  • Quote:
    “The U.S. said it suffered no casualties. Venezuelan authorities say that some military and government officials were killed during the attacks.”
    – Ada Peralta [02:54]

• Maduro’s Arrival and Present Status [02:59–03:25]:

  • He is in federal detention in Brooklyn, NY.
  • Trump administration shared a video of his arrival.
  • Quote:
    “Good night. Happy New Year.”
    – Maduro, nonchalant on arrival [03:24]

• Charges Faced:

  • Narco-terrorism conspiracy
  • Cocaine importation conspiracy
  • Weapons charges

2. Venezuelan Leadership and Official Reactions

• Delsey Rodriguez Now Interim President [03:40–05:17]:

  • Venezuela’s vice president Rodriguez named interim president by the top court.
  • She is a staunch Maduro loyalist and publicly defied U.S. plans.
  • On state TV, Rodriguez insisted, “There is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolas Maduro.”
  • She called the U.S. attacks “barbaric” and vowed to defend Venezuela.
  • Notable Quote (Rodriguez, translated):
    “We are ready to defend Venezuela. We are ready to defend our natural resources.”
    – Delcy Rodriguez [04:48]

• US–Venezuela Relations Unclear [05:17]:

  • President Trump claimed Rodriguez would cooperate with the U.S., but her televised statement contradicted this.
  • Debate centers on whether she will facilitate a transition or resist U.S. control.

3. Venezuelan and Diaspora Response

• Mixed Reactions on the Ground [05:32–06:12]:
  • Celebrations among the Venezuelan diaspora in Miami, Mexico City, Buenos Aires.
  • Inside Venezuela: relief at change but also fear of instability; people preparing for tough days.
  • Anecdote:
    “He was out early buying food and medicine. He was preparing, he said, for what everyone expects will be tough days ahead.”
    – NPR report from Caracas [06:07]

4. Military Details and U.S. Intentions

• How the Military Operation Was Planned and Executed [06:46–09:30]:

  • Months of secret CIA work on Maduro’s routines.
  • Operation launched from Mar-A-Lago just before 11pm (Friday), involving 150 aircraft from 20 locations.
  • Bombers, fighter jets, drones, helicopters deployed.
  • Helicopters landed at Maduro's compound just after 1am; one was hit but all escaped.
  • Maduro and wife seized, evacuated via USS Iwo Jima, then flown to New York.
  • Quote (Gen. Dan Kane):
    “After months of work by our intelligence teammates to find Maduro and understand how he moved, where he lived, where he traveled, what he ate, what he wore, what were his pets. In early December, our force was set.”
    – Gen. Dan Kane [07:16]

• Future U.S. Military Presence and Plans [09:30–10:38]:

  • No U.S. troops remain in Venezuela now; forces are stationed nearby, ready for a “second wave” if needed.
  • Trump emphasizes reluctance for long-term occupation but asserts the U.S. will “run Venezuela” with support from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, and unnamed Venezuelans.
  • Quote (Trump):
    “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground … the US can't just leave Venezuela or the country would never recover.”
    – President Trump [09:55 paraphrased]

• Implementation Unclear:

  • Exact process for U.S. governance is ambiguous, especially with current embassy closure.

5. Legal Implications and Charges

• Details of U.S. Charges Against Maduro Family [12:13–13:24]:

  • Grand Jury indicted Maduro and family in Manhattan; fresh charges include narco-terrorism and weapons offenses.
  • US Attorney General Pam Bondi:
    “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.” [13:00 paraphrased]
  • Trump at news conference called Maduro “kingpin of a vast criminal network responsible for trafficking colossal amounts of deadly and illicit drugs into the United States.” [13:12]

• Legal Basis for U.S. Operation [13:38–15:17]:

  • No detailed administration legal memo made public.
  • Secretary of State Rubio: Maduro is not legitimate, and Venezuela is a threat through drugs and detained Americans.
  • DOJ appears to rely on a 1989 memo authorizing extraterritorial arrests similar to the Noriega case.
  • Senator Mike Lee posits that military action was to protect law enforcement agents serving the warrant.

• Comparison to Other Pardons [15:30–16:27]:

  • Recent Trump pardon of former Honduran leader Juan Orlando Hernandez for similar crimes drew criticism of hypocrisy.
  • Trump defends the differences, framing Hernandez as “persecuted very unfairly.”
  • Quote (Trump):
    “The man that I pardoned was … treated like the Biden administration treated a man named Trump. That didn't work out too well for them. This was a man who was persecuted very unfairly.” [16:13]

6. What’s Next

• Maduro’s Court Appearance:
  • Expected in federal court in New York within the coming week.
  • Case likely to be high-profile given global attention and precedent.
• Political Fallout:
  • Congressional Democrats demand oversight, but with Republican control and national security immunity, resistance is slim.
  • “American courts typically do not weigh in on these kinds of national security matters.” – Carrie Johnson [17:07]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Good night. Happy New Year.” – Nicolas Maduro, on his videoed arrival in U.S. custody, displaying a characteristic nonchalance [03:24]
• “There is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolas Maduro. … Venezuelans will never again be any country's colony.” – Delsey Rodriguez, acting president, defying U.S. authority [04:15]
• “We are ready to defend Venezuela. We are ready to defend our natural resources.” – Delsey Rodriguez [04:48]
• “The illegitimate dictator Maduro was the kingpin of a vast criminal network responsible for trafficking colossal amounts of deadly and illicit drugs into the United States.” – President Trump [13:12]
• “I guess we saved $50 million.” – Secretary of State Marco Rubio, referencing the prior $50M bounty on Maduro [14:16]

---

Important Timestamps

• 02:29 – Detailed account of the U.S. operation in Venezuela
• 03:40 – Delsey Rodriguez named interim president, delivers defiant speech
• 05:32 – Reactions from Venezuelans at home and abroad
• 06:47 – Military planning and execution details
• 10:31 – Trump says the U.S. will “run” Venezuela
• 12:18 – Specifics of charges against Maduro family
• 13:38 – Legal rationale for U.S. action; references to the Noriega case
• 15:30 – Contrast to Trump pardoning another foreign leader for drug crimes

---

Conclusion

This extraordinary episode of Up First chronicles a pivotal moment in U.S.-Venezuela relations: the capture and extradition of President Maduro by U.S. forces. It examines the military operation, shifting power in Caracas, uncertainty and fear for Venezuelans, political and legal fallout in Washington, as well as the broader strategic implications for both countries. Throughout, the tone alternates between urgent, analytical, and, at times, incredulous — reflecting both the magnitude and the controversy of these historic events.

Transcript

[A]

Good morning. I'm Aisha Rascoe, and you're listening to a special episode of our Sunday programming. We're bringing you the latest on the extraordinary developments from Venezuela. President Nicolas Maduro is now in New York City after being Captured by the U.S. stay with us. The U.S. operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took the world by surprise. It happened in the dead of night by US Troops. Tell you how it all went down and now President Trump says the US Is in charge.

[B]

So we are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.

[A]

But what does US Leadership in Venezuela look like? Stay with us. We have the news you need.

[C]

This message comes from Capital One. With the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual capital one travel credit, and access to airport lounges. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply [e-mail] this message comes from BetterHelp. President Fernando Madera shares BetterHelp's commitment to expanding access to therapy.

[D]

Our State of Stigma report helped us understand that believing in mental health is easy, but asking for help is not. Now, with the report on our hands, we can work to make mental health care more accessible.

[C]

To get matched with a therapist, visit betterhelp.com NPR for 10% off your first month. This message comes from Carvana, who makes buying and financing your next car easy. Thousands of vehicles, terms upfront and 100% online even get it delivered to your door. Buy your car the easy way with Carvana. Delivery fee may apply.

[A]

In just a few hours. The US Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, and the leader is now in the United States facing criminal charges in New York City. To bring us up to speed, we're joined by NPR's Ada Peralta in Mexico City. Welcome to the show.

[E]

Hey, Ayesha.

[A]

So first, can you remind us, like, how did this U.S. military operation play out?

[E]

Yeah. As U.S. officials describe it, CIA officers were already in Venezuela for months before this operation. And this Saturday, the US deployed more than 150 aircraft. They struck radar, air defenses, and military bases in Venezuela. And then special ops teams swooped into Maduro's compound. The US Said it suffered no casualties. Venezuelan authorities say that some military and government officials were killed during the attacks.

[A]

So Maduro is in the US Now. Where exactly is he?

[E]

Yeah, he's at a federal detention center in Brooklyn, New York. He arrived in the US by plane and then he was put on a helicopter which flew right in front of the Statue of Liberty before landing in Brooklyn. The Trump administration released a video of Maduro walking into what appears to be a DEA office. Maduro is wearing a black tracksuit and a beanie, and he says some words with his usual nonchalance.

[B]

Good night.

[A]

Happy New Year.

[E]

Good night. Happy New Year. He says Maduro is now facing federal charges of narco terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons charges.

[A]

And in Venezuela, do we know who's running the government there?

[E]

We do. It's Vice President Delsey Rodriguez. Last night, the country's top court decided that she is now the interim president of Venezuela. And right before that decree, Rodriguez chaired a meeting of Venezuela's Defense Council. Rodriguez's very much a Maduro loyalist. She's been with him for more than a decade, rising through the ranks from communications minister to running Venezuela's intelligence agency. But interestingly, President Trump complicated things yesterday because he said that Rodriguez had spoken at length with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that she had agreed to do whatever the Americans wanted. But at this meeting with top Venezuelan government officials, which was broadcast on state television, she did not sound like someone on board with Trump's plans. There is only one president in Venezuela, she said, and his name is Nicolas Maduro. Del Rodriguez also called the US Attacks barbaric. And she said Venezuelans will never again be any country's colony.

[F]

Nosotro estamo litos para defendera Venezuela. Nosotro estamo litos para defender Nuestro recurso naturale.

[E]

We are ready, she said, to defend Venezuela. We are ready to defend our natural resources. And of course, she is referring to oil. Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves, and President Trump made no secret that US Companies want a piece of that business. I think the big question now is whether Del Rodriguez actually came to some agreement with the US and whether she will lead Venezuela toward a transition, as Trump said, or whether she will lead a fight against US Plans to run Venezuela.

[A]

Nicolas Maduro was not a very popular president in Venezuela. Many independent observers say that when Venezuelans went to the polls in 2024, actually lost. So what has been the reaction of Venezuelans?

[E]

You know, for. For more than a decade, millions of Venezuelans have left the country. And we've seen celebrations from that diaspora in cities across the world, from Miami to here in Mexico City to Buenos Aires in Argentina. Inside Caracas, NPR sent a reporter out to talk to people, and we've heard a variety of opinions. There were lots of people who thought a change was long overdue, but they also expressed worry. That reporter found a shopkeeper at a long line at a pharmac. He was awoken in the middle of the night by explosions and he was out early buying food and medicine. He was preparing, he said, for what everyone expects will be tough days ahead.

[A]

That's NPR's Ada Peralta. Ader, thank you so much.

[E]

Thank you, Aisha.

[A]

President Trump threatened Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro for months and still US Forces enjoyed the element of surprise when they captured him. US Troops grabbed Maduro from his compound in the middle of the night and flew him away to the US in under three hours. NPR national security correspondent Greg Myrey joins us now. Welcome.

[D]

Hi, Aisha.

[A]

So the US Buildup against Maduro lasted months. It was very public, but the actual operation was top secret. So what do we know about it?

[D]

Yeah. General Dan Kane, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared with President Trump at a press briefing in Florida yesterday. Now, he said the planning included exhaustive work by the CIA and other intelligence agencies to learn as much as possible about Maduro's pattern of life.

[B]

After months of work by our intelligence teammates to find Maduro and understand how he moved, where he lived, where he traveled, what he ate, what he wore, what were his pets. In early December, our force was set.

[D]

So the US Troops were in place a month ago, but they had to wait for the right moment to launch. And this is largely because of weather conditions. You're dealing with the Caribbean Sea, mountainous terrain, lots of frequent cloud cover.

[A]

So when did the president decide to launch the attack?

[D]

Yeah, Trump was at his Mar A Lago residence and gave the order a little before 11pm on Friday night. The US forces then launched 150 planes from 20 different locations. This included bombers, fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, drones. So many of these planes were helping to protect US Helicopters that were flying low over the sea, carrying Army Delta Force troops toward Maduro's compound in the capital. Again, here's Dan King.

[B]

As the force began to approach Caracas, the joint air component began dismantling and disabling the air defense systems in Venezuela, employing weapons to ensure the safe passage of the helicopters into the target area.

[D]

So the helicopters touched down at Maduro's compound just after 1am Saturday and they came under fire and one of them was hit, but it was still able to fly.

[A]

So how did they know where to find Maduro?

[D]

So the US Forces had trained on mock ups of the compound and they knew where to look for Maduro and his wife. Trump said the couple were trying to flee, but they reached a safe room with a heavy steel door, but they couldn't close it. So the US Troops seized the couple. It put them on helicopters, and then they flew out quickly and they cleared the Venezuela coast and were back over the Caribbean by 3:30am and they landed on the USS Iwo Jima. Now, Maduro was then put on a couple flights. He landed eventually in New York. He is now at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn.

[A]

Does this mean all the US Forces have left Venezuela? And if so, what will they be doing next?

[D]

Yeah, there's no signs of any US Troops in Venezuela, but Trump and General Kaine said the US Forces remain in the region on ships and other places nearby, like Puerto Rico. And Trump said they are ready to move in a second wave if they are needed. Now, the president, in both his first term and this term has been very reluctant to send in troops on the ground, be it in Venezuela or elsewhere. But he said, quote, we're not afraid of boots on the ground. And he said that the US can't just leave Venezuela or the country would never recover. And then in the remark that really grabbed everyone's attention, Trump said the US Would run Venezuela. And he said he'd do it with people that were with him at the news conference. He was referring to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, along with Venezuelans as well.

[A]

So how does the US Plan to run Venezuela if there are no American troops or US Government officials there?

[D]

Yeah, this is far from clear. And it seems Trump would prefer not to send the troops back into Venezuela as an occupying force. And we should also Note that the U.S. embassy in Venezuela has been closed since 2019. Now, Trump sounded mildly supportive of Venezuela's vice president, Delsey Rodriguez, who's now effectively in charge. Trump said she would be willing to do what the US Wanted. But shortly afterwards, she went on TV and delivered a very defiant message saying the US had invaded her country and that Maduro was still the country's leader.

[A]

And what about Maduro supporters in Venezuela? I mean, do we know what they might do?

[D]

No, we just don't know what the military and other pro Maduro groups will do or how they'll respond to his allies. And this is a very divided country. It's one industry, one valuable industry. Oil will need billions of dollars of investments. Trump says US Oil companies will jump in, but they will probably want to see some stability before they're willing to make that kind of big investment.

[A]

Thank you. That's NPR's Greg Myri. Thank you so much. Sure thing, Aisha. The Venezuelan leader and his wife could appear in a courtroom this week. They're facing criminal charges brought by the U.S. justice Department. NPR justice correspondent Carrie Johnson has been following the story, and she's here now to talk more about it. Hi, Kerry.

[F]

Thank you.

[A]

So, Kerry, what do we know about the criminal charges against Maduro and his family?

[F]

A grand jury in Manhattan first indicted Maduro in 2020 on drug charges, but new prosecutors there added char and defendants to that older case. Maduro now faces allegations of narco terrorism, conspiracy to import tons of cocaine, and possession of machine guns and other destructive devices. The unsealed indictment described him as misusing government power to promote illegal activity, basically lining his pockets while protecting the violent drug cartels. US Authorities also charged Maduro's wife, Celia Flores, and his adult son. US Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a social media post that they will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. That could happen this week. And here's how President Trump described the allegations at a news conference.

[B]

The illegitimate dictator Maduro was the kingpin of a vast criminal network responsible for trafficking colossal amounts of deadly and illicit drugs into the United States.

[A]

Okay, so those are the allegations, but what's the legal basis for this extraordinary operation by the U.S. government against a foreign leader who was forcibly removed from his own country?

[F]

Really a stunning turn of events, and the administration has not so far released any white paper or detailed explanation of its legal rationale. But there are some clues. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Maduro was not the legitimate president of Venezuela. He was Republican, referring to questionable elections there that the American government and others have refused to recognize as fair and free from corruption. Rubio also said flooding the US with drugs and detaining Americans in Venezuela posed a direct threat to the United States. Here's more from Marco Rubio.

[D]

He is a fugitive of American justice with a $50 million reward, which I.

[F]

Guess we saved $50 million. The US government seems to be relying on a Justice Department legal memo from 1989 during the George H.W. bush. That memo paved the way for American law enforcement to make arrests in other countries, even if those actions might violate international law. And that memo was issued before the US Captured Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega and sent him to the US to face charges. Noriega was caught 36 years ago. Also on January 3, Noriega fought back against the US charges and mostly lost. But that legal fight took many years. And then just yesterday, Senator Mike Lee from Utah posted online he spoke with the US Secretary of State and Rubio suggested military forces in Venezuela were playing a role to protect the US Law enforcement agents serving the arrest warrant against Maduro. So that's another possible legal rationale the Trump administration may be using here.

[A]

The Trump administration is talking tough about drug trafficking in Venezuela, but the president recently pardoned another foreign official for similar crimes. Right.

[F]

Just a month ago, President Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former leader of Honduras. A jury in New York had found him guilty of misusing his role to help drug traffickers import more than 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S. prosecutors in New York say he used drug money to fund his campaign and that he used his power to protect drug lords. Hernandez had been serving a prison sentence of 45 years, but Trump friend and ally Roger Stone had advocated for his pardon. And Virginia Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat, said in a statement yesterday that this new arrest of Maduro in Venezuela is a glaring hypocrisy. Here's how President Trump responded to that yesterday.

[B]

The man that I pardoned was, if you could equate it to us, he was treated like the Biden administration treated a man named Trump. That didn't work out too well for them. This was a man who was persecuted very unfairly.

[A]

So, Kerry, what's next?

[F]

Military operators put Maduro and his wife on the USS Iwo Jima. Trump posted a photo of Maduro apparently on that ship wearing what looks like a gray sweatsuit. They've since arrived in New York, where they could make an initial appearance in court this coming week. The federal courts in New York have handled a lot of high profile cases, including ones that involve major drug crimes. Now, Democrats in Congress say they want answers about why the administration did this without congressional approval. But Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress. They don't have much appetite for oversight. And American courts typically do not weigh in on these kinds of national security matters.

[A]

That's NPR's Carrie Johnson. Thanks, Carrie.

[F]

My pleasure.

[A]

And that's up first for Sunday, January 4th, 2026. I'm Aisha Roscoe. Elena Toureg produced today's podcast. It was edited by Hadil Alshauchi, Dee Parvaz, Miguel Macias and Andrew Sussman. Danny Hensel is the director. Our technical director was David Greenberg with engineering support from Zoe Vangenhoven, Jay Siz and Simon Laszlo Jansen. Our senior supervising editor is Shannon Rose. Evie Stone is our executive producer, and Jim Cain is our deputy managing editor. For all the breaking news and many other stories, tune in to NPR. Find your local station at stations.NPR.org.

[C]

Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon prime members can listen to Up First Sponsor free through Amazon Music. Or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org hello.

[F]

And happy new Year. It's Michelle Martin from Morning Edition. Thank you to everyone who donated during our end of year fundraising campaign. 2025 dealt a big blow to NPR and local stations with the loss of federal funding for public media, but we are so heartened by the outpouring of support and we will get through this together. Thank you for keeping NPR strong, moving into 2026 and beyond.

[A]

Are you thinking about making any changes.

[C]

In the new year? The Life Kit podcast is here to help. In each episode we have research backed strategies and expert advice on everything from meal prep to strengthening relationships to paying.

[A]

Down your credit card debt. Make your resolutions stick. Listen to the Life Kit podcast on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.