NEW YORK — In a dramatic echo of the 1989 capture of Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega, the United States has once again taken a foreign leader into custody — this time Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was seized in a sweeping U.S. military operation and transported through Guantánamo Bay before arriving in New York to face federal charges.
Maduro, who was indicted on narco‑terrorism and cocaine‑trafficking conspiracy counts, was flown out of Caracas after a large‑scale U.S. strike early Saturday, according to multiple reports. His capture marks one of the most significant U.S. actions in Latin America in decades, drawing immediate comparisons to the arrest of Noriega during the U.S. invasion of Panama.
Captured in Caracas, Routed Through Guantánamo
Senior law‑enforcement officials told NewsNation and The Hill that Maduro was initially held at the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, before being transferred to the United States mainland.
The aircraft believed to be carrying Maduro later departed Gitmo for New York, where he was escorted by federal agents, according to ABC7 New York.
Arrival in New York Under Heavy Guard
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York on Saturday afternoon, CBS News reported. From there, he was flown by helicopter to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he is expected to be held pending court proceedings.
Footage shared on social media showed Maduro being escorted by federal agents, marking the first clear images of the Venezuelan leader on U.S. soil.
Arraignment Expected Monday
Two sources familiar with the case told CBS News that Maduro could be arraigned as early as Monday in federal court in the Southern District of New York.
The Justice Department has accused Maduro of helping ship tons of cocaine into the United States over decades, charges that carry potential life sentences. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of assets tied to the alleged conspiracy.
A Rare Parallel: Noriega and Maduro
Maduro’s capture immediately drew comparisons to the U.S. seizure of Manuel Noriega, who was flown to Miami in 1990 to face drug‑trafficking charges after the U.S. invasion of Panama.
While the geopolitical contexts differ, both cases involve U.S. military operations leading to the arrest of a sitting or de facto head of state on narcotics charges — a rarity in modern international relations.
Regional Shockwaves
The operation has sent political tremors through Latin America, where U.S. intervention remains a sensitive issue. Venezuelan officials have condemned the capture, while U.S. leaders have framed it as a major blow against transnational narcotics networks.
