In a stunning overnight operation, the United States military successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife from their heavily fortified palace, facing minimal resistance. The dramatic raid culminates months of escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas and reveals a detailed story of paranoia, failed security overhauls, and clandestine intelligence work.
Months of Paranoia and Security Revamp
For the last several months, Nicolas Maduro had grown increasingly paranoid about his security amid the standoff with the US. According to reports, his fears led to extreme measures. He began rotating his sleeping beds and using multiple cellphones to avoid being tracked. In a bid to tighten his inner circle, he enlisted more Cuban intelligence officers and significantly reduced his number of public appearances and live broadcasts.
His last public sighting was an interview aired on Venezuelan state TV on New Year's Day, where he notably referred to the United States as a "brother country." As tensions escalated, Maduro revamped his security detail, surrounding himself with Cuban agents who were stripped of all electronic devices to prevent any digital tracking.
The CIA's Ground Operation and the Raid
Despite these precautions, they proved futile. The CIA had a team of officers operating clandestinely on the ground in Venezuela since August. These officers, as reported by the New York Times, meticulously gathered information on Maduro's "pattern of life" and movements, effectively having him "wired" or precisely located during the planning of the capture operation.
This intelligence paved the way for the US military action. President Donald Trump revealed that Maduro and his wife were taken directly from their bed. The palace, described as highly protected and even featuring a steel safety bunker, could not save him. Maduro did not get time to reach the bunker. Trump added that while the forces were prepared with a blowtorch to penetrate the bunker's steel, it was ultimately not needed.
Inside Help and the $50 Million Reward
The operation's success was significantly aided by sources within the Venezuelan government working with the CIA. Furthermore, the US strategy of announcing a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro's capture reportedly played a crucial role in gathering actionable intelligence. The senior US official told the NYT that the synergy between CIA analysts and special operations forces ensured Maduro was precisely tracked until the final moment, even as he was guarded by phone-less Cuban agents.
The capture marks a dramatic turn in the political crisis in Venezuela and signals a bold, direct intervention by the United States in the region. The details emerging paint a picture of a leader whose elaborate security measures were systematically undone by a prolonged and patient intelligence operation.
