Sat Jan 03 12:58:27 UTC 2026: Here’s a news article summarizing the events described in the text:

U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Maduro in Surprise Raid

Washington, D.C. – In a stunning turn of events, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been captured by U.S. forces in a surprise military operation. The announcement came via Truth Social from President Donald Trump, who stated that the capture was successful and that Maduro and his wife were being transported out of the country. Trump is scheduled to hold a press conference later today to provide further details.

The capture followed a period of escalating tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. Just days before the raid, Maduro had extended an olive branch to the U.S. in an interview aired on Venezuelan state television. He offered to cooperate on combating drug trafficking and expressed openness to U.S. investment in Venezuela’s oil sector.

However, the U.S. government has been building a case against Maduro, accusing him of being the head of a narco-terrorist organization responsible for the flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the U.S. In the weeks leading up to the raid, the U.S. military had been increasingly active in the region, targeting alleged drug-smuggling vessels and seizing oil tankers carrying Venezuelan oil. A CIA drone strike targeting a suspected drug cartel docking area last week marked the first direct U.S. operation on Venezuelan soil.

Reports from Caracas indicate that at least seven explosions were heard early Saturday, accompanied by the sound of low-flying aircraft, fueling speculation about an attack. While the U.S. has not officially confirmed the details of the military operation, several media outlets are reporting that the capture was executed by the elite Delta Force unit.

Critics have accused the Trump administration of seeking to overthrow Maduro to gain control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Maduro himself had previously accused the U.S. of attempting to install a puppet government in Venezuela. The situation remains fluid, and further details are expected to emerge during President Trump’s upcoming press conference.

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