00:00Shocking new video released by U.S. authorities is drawing global attention tonight.
00:07The footage, posted by the White House, is described as the first visual evidence showing
00:12Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in U.S. custody.
00:18In the video, Maduro appears calm and composed as he is escorted inside what officials say
00:25is a DEA facility in New York City.
00:28At one point, he is seen being fingerprinted.
00:32He briefly speaks in both English and Spanish, telling those present good night and happy
00:38new year.
00:51The visual surfaced shortly after U.S. officials confirmed that Maduro and his wife, First
00:58Lady Celia Flores, had been transferred from Venezuela to the United States.
01:04According to U.S. officials, the operation began with a late-night capture inside Venezuela,
01:10reportedly lasting less than 30 minutes.
01:13Earlier, former President Trump shared what he said was the first image of Maduro in custody,
01:20showing him handcuffed and blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima.
01:25Trump claimed the mission targeted Maduro at a heavily guarded location, adding that the
01:31operation had been rehearsed in advance by U.S. forces.
01:35Late last night and early today, at my direction, the United States Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary
01:46military operation in the capital of Venezuela.
01:51Overwhelming American military power, air, land, and sea was used to launch a spectacular assault, and it was an assault
02:03like people have not seen since World War II.
02:09It was a force against a heavily fortified military fortress in the heart of Caracas to bring outlaw dictator
02:18Nicolas Maduro to justice.
02:21This was one of the most stunning, effective, and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history.
02:33U.S. officials say that following his detention, Maduro was first taken to the USS Iwo Jima at an undisclosed location in the Caribbean.
02:43He was then flown to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before being transferred to Stewart Air Force Base in New York State.
02:53From there, Maduro and Flores were transported by helicopter into New York City.
02:59Video captured on the ground showed a motorcade believed to be carrying Maduro exiting DEA headquarters along Manhattan's West Side Highway.
03:09Later, the couple were flown by helicopter to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, passing the Statue of Liberty during the flight.
03:19In total, officials say Maduro traveled roughly 2,100 miles, or about 3,300 kilometers, from Venezuela to U.S. custody.
03:29U.S. Attorney Palm Bondi confirmed that both Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York.
03:37The charges include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine trafficking, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and multiple weapons-related conspiracies.
03:49U.S. media outlets report that the formal booking process has begun, including fingerprints, biometric scans, mug shots, and medical examinations.
04:00So far, Venezuelan authorities have not publicly acknowledged the footage, and there has been no independent confirmation from Caracas regarding the operation.
04:11As the situation continues to unfold, the images mark a dramatic moment in U.S.-Venezuelan relations, one that could carry significant legal, political, and diplomatic consequences in the days ahead.
04:26Further updates are expected as officials provide more details.
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