In the early hours of January 3, 2026, newsrooms around the world erupted with a single breaking headline: "Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Captured by US Forces." What seemed like a plot from a movie has become reality. Codenamed 'Absolute Resolve,' this event goes beyond a mere arrestโit is redrawing the geopolitical map of South America.
Operation 'Absolute Resolve': What Happened That Night?
At 2:00 AM local time on January 3, 2026, the silence over northern Caracas was shattered by the sound of helicopters. According to Pentagon officials and reports from CBS News, the operation was led by the US Army's elite **Delta Force**.
๐ฐ๏ธ Operation Timeline (Local Time)
In a statement immediately following the operation's success, President Trump announced, "The United States has removed a dictator for the freedom of the Venezuelan people," signaling that the US would temporarily manage the situation until a transition government is established. This effectively marks a powerful revival of the 'Monroe Doctrine.'
"Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country... We are going to run the country until we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." โ Donald Trump, US President (Statement on Jan 3, 2026)
The 'Ya Casi Venezuela' Prophecy & Erik Prince
To understand this event, we must turn the clock back to late 2024. **Erik Prince**, founder of the private military company Blackwater, launched a campaign called 'Ya Casi Venezuela' (Almost There, Venezuela), crowdfunding for Maduro's ouster.
At the time, many dismissed it as a scam or bluff. However, as the US military buildup in the Caribbean and precision strikes on drug smuggling vessels intensified in late 2025, the situation shifted rapidly. While it's unconfirmed if Prince was directly involved in this Delta Force operation, his prediction that "it would end before the Jan 10 inauguration" proved chillingly accurate. Maduro was arrested just a week before his planned third-term inauguration.
Charges & Legal Basis: Why New York?
Maduro is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York. This facility has housed high-profile criminals like Sam Bankman-Fried and R. Kelly. The charges against him are not merely political suppression but **'Narco-terrorism.'**
- Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy: Leading the 'Cartel of the Suns' within the Venezuelan military to traffic cocaine into the US.
- Arms Trafficking: Providing military-grade weapons to Colombian rebels (FARC) in exchange for protection of drug routes.
- Corruption & Money Laundering: Embezzling astronomical sums through the state oil company (PDVSA).
The US Department of Justice has kept him under indictment since 2020, with a bounty reaching $50 million. This marks the first time since the arrest of Panama's Manuel Noriega (1989) that a sitting head of state has been captured by US forces on drug charges.
Key Takeaway: Why Now?
Following the rigged 2024 elections, internal resistance in Venezuela reached a breaking point. Strategically, the US likely decided it could no longer tolerate the expanding influence of Russia and China in South America (A New Monroe Doctrine).
Global Reactions: Between Cheers and Fury
"A violation of sovereignty and international law. The US must release Maduro immediately." As major creditors, both nations condemned the event as a 'kidnapping.'
"We support the restoration of democracy but express concern over military intervention methods." Adopting a cautious stance while monitoring the legitimacy of the transitional government.
Argentina's President Milei cheered "Long live freedom!", while leftist governments in Chile and Brazil could not hide their discomfort with US military intervention.
Explosive Reactions on Reddit & Online Communities
Social media and communities have become a melting pot of memes. Specifically, Reddit's r/worldnews and r/Venezuela are seeing tens of thousands of comments in real-time.
Reddit Best Comments
- u/GeopoliticsNerd: "Wow, the GTA 6 prologue mission just happened in real life. Can't believe Delta Force actually cleared the Caracas map."
- u/ArepaLover: "As a Venezuelan, I'm crying right now. I hope this isn't a dream. Please let this be real change this time."
- u/OilBaron2025: "Oil prices crashing? I'm going all in on Chevron stocks."
- u/HistoryBuff: "This is basically the 2026 version of the 1989 Panama invasion. History repeats itself, and Trump actually pulled it off."
Oil Markets and the Future of Venezuela
Immediately following the news of Maduro's arrest, **WTI crude oil prices plunged over 7% intraday**. This reflects expectations that Venezuela's vast oil reservesโthe largest in the worldโwill return to the market. With President Trump stating, "Get the oil flowing," the return of US energy giants like Chevron to Venezuela is expected to accelerate.
However, the future is not entirely rosy. The remnants of Maduro's regime, military fragmentation, and chaos during the transitional government pose risks of civil conflict. Whether the US-appointed transitional government will be accepted by Venezuelans as 'liberators' or remembered as another 'occupying force' depends on the coming months.