The US military on Saturday (Jan 03) conducted "large-scale" strikes in Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in the capital Caracas and flew them out of the country. The United States government has sought Maduro's arrest for years and was accused by a US court of narco-terrorism. Maduro has been on a US bounty since 2020. In 2025, the Trump administration doubled the reward to $50 million for any information leading to Maduro's capture.&nbsp;However, for years, Maduro, with the help of his multi-layered, highly trained and armed personal security detail, successfully thwarted attempts on his life and efforts to capture him, to finally caught by the Delta Force, an elite unit of the US Army, on Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;The US President Donald Trump confirmed the capture was made possible by extensive planning and seamless coordination between various wings of the armed forces and Washington's intelligence apparatus. &nbsp;"A lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops and great people," he said as quoted by the New York Times.&nbsp;Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was protected by a multi-layered, heavily militarised security apparatus, making him one of the most guarded leaders in the world, as he has been at odds with Washington over a decade of ideological conflict and accusations of being involved in narco-terrorism activities inside the United States.&nbsp;Maduro’s inner security ring was handled by the Presidential Honour Guard (Guardia de Honour Presidencial), an elite unit responsible for his close protection at the Miraflores Palace, official residences and public events. This unit reports directly to the presidency and operates independently of regular police forces.&nbsp;His protection was supported by the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN), which conducts counter-intelligence, surveillance, threat monitoring and internal security operations. SEBIN plays a key role in foiling assassination plots and neutralising political threats.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/inside-delta-force-elite-us-military-unit-that-captured-venezuela-s-president-1767436593484">Inside Delta Force, elite US military unit that captured Venezuela’s president</a>&nbsp;The Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) and National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) provided outer-layer security, controlling perimeters, routes, airspace and public venues during Maduro’s movements. Military units routinely escort his motorcades and secure strategic locations.&nbsp;Maduro also relied on Cuban security and intelligence advisers, a relationship that dates back to the Hugo Chávez era. These advisers are believed to assist in intelligence analysis, personal protection protocols and counter-espionage, although Caracas does not officially disclose their role.&nbsp;After surviving a 2018 drone attack, Maduro significantly tightened security with measures such as electronic counter-drone systems, restricted airspace, frequent route changes and tightly controlled public appearances.

For years, Maduro, with the help of his multi-layered, highly trained, and heavily armed personal security detail, successfully thwarted attempts on his life, including an assassination attempt involving a drone attack in 2018.

The US military on Saturday (Jan 03) conducted "large-scale" strikes in Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in the capital Caracas and flew them out of the country. The United States government has sought Maduro's arrest for years and was accused by a US court of narco-terrorism. Maduro has been on a US bounty since 2020. In 2025, the Trump administration doubled the reward to $50 million for any information leading to Maduro's capture. However, for years, Maduro, with the help of his multi-layered, highly trained and armed personal security detail, successfully thwarted attempts on his life and efforts to capture him, to finally caught by the Delta Force, an elite unit of the US Army, on Saturday. The US President Donald Trump confirmed the capture was made possible by extensive planning and seamless coordination between various wings of the armed forces and Washington's intelligence apparatus. "A lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops and great people," he said as quoted by the New York Times. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was protected by a multi-layered, heavily militarised security apparatus, making him one of the most guarded leaders in the world, as he has been at odds with Washington over a decade of ideological conflict and accusations of being involved in narco-terrorism activities inside the United States. Maduro’s inner security ring was handled by the Presidential Honour Guard (Guardia de Honour Presidencial), an elite unit responsible for his close protection at the Miraflores Palace, official residences and public events. This unit reports directly to the presidency and operates independently of regular police forces. His protection was supported by the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN), which conducts counter-intelligence, surveillance, threat monitoring and internal security operations. SEBIN plays a key role in foiling assassination plots and neutralising political threats. Also Read: Inside Delta Force, elite US military unit that captured Venezuela’s president The Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) and National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) provided outer-layer security, controlling perimeters, routes, airspace and public venues during Maduro’s movements. Military units routinely escort his motorcades and secure strategic locations. Maduro also relied on Cuban security and intelligence advisers, a relationship that dates back to the Hugo Chávez era. These advisers are believed to assist in intelligence analysis, personal protection protocols and counter-espionage, although Caracas does not officially disclose their role. After surviving a 2018 drone attack, Maduro significantly tightened security with measures such as electronic counter-drone systems, restricted airspace, frequent route changes and tightly controlled public appearances.

For years, Maduro, with the help of his multi-layered, highly trained, and heavily armed personal security detail, successfully thwarted attempts on his life, including an assassination attempt involving a drone attack in 2018.

Maduro’s fortress: Venezuelan president’s personal security apparatus that blocked attacks for years before eventual capture

Crime and politics intersect across Venezuela, Cuba and Mexican cartels, where state actors, intelligence networks and guerrilla groups enable cocaine trafficking, gold laundering and safe havens, pushing the US to label Venezuela’s Cartel of the Suns a terrorist threat.

Crime and politics intersect across Venezuela, Cuba and Mexican cartels, where state actors, intelligence networks and guerrilla groups enable cocaine trafficking, gold laundering and safe havens, pushing the US to label Venezuela’s Cartel of the Suns a terrorist threat.

Venezuela, Cuba, and Mexican cartels: How crime and politics quietly intersect

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Dec 29) confirmed that Washington has carried out the first land strikes on Venezuela. The US president said that the US attacked the "dock area" linked to alleged drug boats. Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump said the strike caused a "major explosion" at a site he claimed "they load the boats up with drugs".<h2>Does Trump not know who was responsible for the strike?</h2>While he confirmed the strike, Trump did not disclose where the dock was located, when the strike occurred, or which US agency carried it out. When pressed on whether the CIA was involved, Trump replied cryptically: "I don't want to say that. I know exactly who it was, but I don't want to say who it was"."We hit all the boats, and now we hit the area... it's the implementation area. That's where they implement, and that is no longer around," he added.Venezuela's government has not commented, and it remains unclear whether the strike took place on Venezuelan soil.<h2>POTUS casually confirms land strike</h2>This was the second time Trump has publicly referred to a land attack. Previously, he mentioned a strike on a "big facility" during a radio interview last week without offering details. So far, neither the White House nor the Pentagon has released images or video of the alleged dock strike, a departure from earlier US operations in which visual evidence was shared online.Since September, US forces have repeatedly targeted what Washington alleges are drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. According to US officials, more than 20 vessels have been hit, with at least 100 people killed. On Monday, US Southern Command said two alleged "narco-terrorists" were killed in a "lethal kinetic strike" in the eastern Pacific, though it did not link that operation to the dock explosion described by Trump. &nbsp;

Donald Trump has casually confirmed the first US land strike on Venezuela, claiming a drug-linked dock was hit in a “major explosion”. He refused to say who carried it out or where it happened. However, as of now, there are no images, no details, and no response from Caracas.

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Dec 29) confirmed that Washington has carried out the first land strikes on Venezuela. The US president said that the US attacked the "dock area" linked to alleged drug boats. Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump said the strike caused a "major explosion" at a site he claimed "they load the boats up with drugs". Does Trump not know who was responsible for the strike? While he confirmed the strike, Trump did not disclose where the dock was located, when the strike occurred, or which US agency carried it out. When pressed on whether the CIA was involved, Trump replied cryptically: "I don't want to say that. I know exactly who it was, but I don't want to say who it was". "We hit all the boats, and now we hit the area... it's the implementation area. That's where they implement, and that is no longer around," he added. Venezuela's government has not commented, and it remains unclear whether the strike took place on Venezuelan soil. POTUS casually confirms land strike This was the second time Trump has publicly referred to a land attack. Previously, he mentioned a strike on a "big facility" during a radio interview last week without offering details. So far, neither the White House nor the Pentagon has released images or video of the alleged dock strike, a departure from earlier US operations in which visual evidence was shared online. Since September, US forces have repeatedly targeted what Washington alleges are drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. According to US officials, more than 20 vessels have been hit, with at least 100 people killed. On Monday, US Southern Command said two alleged "narco-terrorists" were killed in a "lethal kinetic strike" in the eastern Pacific, though it did not link that operation to the dock explosion described by Trump.

Donald Trump has casually confirmed the first US land strike on Venezuela, claiming a drug-linked dock was hit in a “major explosion”. He refused to say who carried it out or where it happened. However, as of now, there are no images, no details, and no response from Caracas.&nbsp;

'I don't want to say': Trump confirms first US land strike on Venezuela, acts secretive about exact details

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Maduro’s fortress: Venezuelan president’s personal security apparatus that blocked attacks for years before eventual capture

Venezuela, Cuba, and Mexican cartels: How crime and politics quietly intersect

'Don't want to say': Trump confirms Venezuela land strike, stays mum on details