Operation Absolute Resolve: Maduro Arrest 2026 and the 150-Minute Raid

The fortress fell in just 150 minutes. President Donald Trump's lightning-fast "Operation Absolute Resolve" culminated in the unprecedented arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a move that has stunned the global political landscape.

Operation Absolute Resolve: Blackout in Caracas

According to the BBC, the operation began around 02:00 local time on January 3, 2026. The U.S. cut power to Caracas, plunging the capital into darkness to disable air defenses. Elite Delta Force troops then descended on Fuerte Tiuna, a massive military complex housing top government officials.

While some helicopters faced heavy gunfire, they successfully breached the compound by 02:01. President Trump later detailed the intense final moments, noting that Maduro reached a heavy steel safe room door but couldn't close it in time. "Even if they had managed to get in, our guys could have blown it open in about 47 seconds," Trump stated.

Maduro Arrest: The 2,100-Mile Path to Justice

After their capture, the couple was whisked away to the USS Iwo Jima in the Caribbean. A striking image released by the administration showed Maduro in handcuffs and a blindfold on board the warship. From there, they were flown to Guantánamo Bay before arriving at a detention center in Manhattan via helicopter.

Maduro and Flores now face serious charges, including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and cocaine importation. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that the pair will soon face the "full wrath of American justice" in American courts.