Nicolas Maduro appears solemn in handcuffs as he makes first public comment since his capture
NEW YORK, NEW YORK: Nicolas Maduro was escorted in handcuffs into the US D**g Enforcement Administration headquarters in Manhattan late Saturday, marking his first public appearance on American soil since being captured during a US military operation in Caracas.
Video released by authorities shows Maduro wearing black sweats, a hat and jail-issued footwear as he was processed and transported to federal custody ahead of a scheduled trial in New York.
Maduro was captured alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, in a coordinated overnight mission on Jan 3 and flown to the United States for prosecution on federal charges, including n***o-t*******m and d**g t*********g.
Solemn walk through DEA facility, unusual greeting to agents
Footage from the DEA headquarters shows Maduro’s subdued arrival, with agents escorting him through a hallway lined with law enforcement personnel.
Maduro, clad in plain clothing and restraints, offered a brief and unexpected greeting to those nearby, saying “Good night, Happy New Year” as he was led through the building.
The visuals described by White House as a perp walk underline the dramatic shift from Maduro’s previous role as Venezuela’s president to a defendant in a US criminal case.
Large crowds of Venezuelan expatriates and others gathered near the detention center, where some chanted slogans such as “Down with the dictator” and applauded the US move, viewing Maduro’s capture as a long-awaited moment of accountability.
:rotating_light: NOW: An increasing amount of Venezuelan-American patriots are showing up outside Mar-a-Lago with American flags and signs reading “THANK YOU TRUMP!”
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 3, 2026
Lots of happy patriots today, and lots of dead communists today too! :fire:
:camera_with_flash: @DanScavino pic.twitter.com/l3E3Fn5CJa
Nicolas Maduro’s capture follows US military strikes and charges
The handcuffed arrival caps a bold US operation in Venezuela that included strikes on military targets and the surprise detention of Maduro and Flores.
US officials have charged the couple in the Southern District of New York with multiple offenses, including n***o-t*******m conspiracy and c*****e importation conspiracy, tied to allegations of extensive d**g t*********g networks operating under Maduro’s government.
The capture was conducted as part of what American officials described as a coordinated action involving special forces, and Maduro was transported aboard US military assets before arriving in New York.
Earlier, Donald Trump shared the first image of Nicolas Maduro following his capture by authorities.
The photo was said to have been taken aboard the USS Iwo Jima as Maduro was reportedly being transported to New York City ahead of indictment.
The scale of the operation, which included airstrikes around Caracas, drew international attention and sparked both support and criticism globally.
