US publishes images showing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in custody after arrival in New York
The United States government has released photographs purportedly showing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in handcuffs and under federal custody following his reported transfer to the US after a military-backed operation in Venezuela.
The images, made public by US authorities, show Maduro heavily guarded by federal agents after his aircraft landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York.
In the photographs, the Venezuelan leader is seen restrained and surrounded by security personnel.
Additional images previously shared by former US President Donald Trump allegedly showed Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed aboard the US Navy vessel USS Iwo Jima during his transfer toward the United States.
According to US officials cited in the reports, Maduro was flown by helicopter from the air base to Manhattan upon arrival.
He is said to be facing detention at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, where he is expected to remain pending prosecution.
The reports further claim that the Venezuelan president is to be tried on multiple federal charges, including allegations of narco-terrorism and criminal conspiracy.
US authorities have not released further details on the legal proceedings at this time.
According to US authorities, Maduro is expected to face longstanding federal charges, including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking conspiracy, and alleged collaboration with transnational criminal networks. These charges stem from years-old indictments unsealed by the US Department of Justice, which accused him of using drug trafficking as a tool to destabilise the United States and finance armed groups in the region.
Maduro’s reported capture marks a dramatic escalation in the long-running standoff between Washington and Caracas. For years, the US has imposed heavy sanctions on Venezuela, refused to recognise Maduro’s presidency following disputed elections, and repeatedly called for his removal from power. Previous attempts to arrest or extradite him were unsuccessful, as he remained protected by Venezuela’s security apparatus and political allies.
If confirmed, his transfer to US custody would represent an unprecedented moment in US–Latin American relations, potentially reshaping Venezuela’s political future while triggering strong reactions from regional governments and global powers watching closely as the case unfolds.
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