Venezuelans across the world have poured into the streets in celebration following the announcement by the United States government that President Nicolás Maduro has been captured and flown out of Venezuela to face charges in the US.
The development triggered scenes of jubilation in several countries, with Venezuelans singing, dancing and waving national flags, as many described the moment as the end of years of repression and hardship.
According to US authorities, Maduro was seized during a military operation carried out in the early hours of Saturday in Caracas. His wife, Cilia Flores, was also reportedly captured. The operation was accompanied by explosions, low-flying aircraft and columns of smoke across parts of the Venezuelan capital.
Maduro has been indicted in the United States on drug trafficking and weapons-related charges. Washington alleges that the Venezuelan leader headed a drug trafficking network known as the Cartel de los Soles, accused of conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the US. American officials say the charges date back to 2020, with financial rewards for information leading to his arrest reportedly reaching as high as $50 million in 2025.
The news sparked celebrations among Venezuelans in Latin America, the United States and Europe, particularly within diaspora communities formed after years of mass migration. The United Nations estimates that more than eight million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2014 due to violence, economic collapse, hyperinflation, food shortages and insecurity.
“This is the fall of a dictatorship,” a Venezuelan celebrant in Chile said, adding that the capture marked a turning point toward freedom and the possibility of rebuilding the country.
In Doral, Florida, another Venezuelan said the development represented long-awaited justice for citizens forced into exile. “We want to return home and rebuild Venezuela,” the celebrant said.
US President Donald Trump, announcing the operation, described it as a “brilliantly executed mission” carried out by elite forces after extensive planning. He declined to say whether Congress had been consulted before authorising the raid, noting that the issue would be addressed later.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro would face trial on American soil, adding that multiple weapons charges accompany the drug-related counts.
Inside Venezuela, reactions were mixed. While some citizens celebrated, Attorney General Tarek William Saab condemned the US action, alleging civilian casualties and calling for peaceful demonstrations. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded proof that Maduro and his wife were alive following the operation.
The development also drew international reactions. Russia, a key ally of Venezuela, expressed concern and questioned the legality of the operation, warning that the forced removal of a sitting head of state could violate international law.
Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013 under the United Socialist Party, has long faced criticism from opponents and international observers over allegations of authoritarianism, disputed elections and mismanagement of the economy. His capture marks one of the most dramatic moments in Venezuela’s modern political history, reshaping the mood among millions of Venezuelans worldwide.