U.S. Military ‘Surgical Operation’ Apprehends Maduro, Cilia Flores in Historic Drug Trafficking Case
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described a military operation conducted by the United States on January 3 that resulted in the apprehension of Nicolas Maduro and his co-conspirator Cilia Flores.
The “surgical operation,” Rubio stated, was authorized by President Donald Trump to target two indicted fugitives from American justice. “The United States arrested two narcotraffickers who are now going to stand trial in the United States for the crimes they committed against our people,” Rubio said.
Rubio emphasized that Maduro was never recognized as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, noting that over 50 countries—including the European Union and Latin American nations—rejected his disputed 2024 election. “The United States and many nations worldwide do not recognize him as Venezuela’s legitimately elected president,” he added.
Rubio characterized Maduro’s regime as an international narcotics and corruption network responsible for devastating Venezuela while flooding the U.S. with drugs. He stated that Maduro and his associates drove more than 8 million Venezuelans from their homes, creating “the world’s largest mass migration crisis.”
According to Rubio, interim leader Delcy Rodriguez has assumed authority in Caracas and pledged cooperation with the United States, including opening Venezuela’s energy sector to American companies and ending oil support for Cuba. “We are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail,” Rubio warned lawmakers.
The secretary of state concluded that the Western Hemisphere would not tolerate criminal regimes harming American citizens. “The president has made clear that the Western Hemisphere is our home, and we will not tolerate criminality within this Hemisphere that harms American citizens,” he stated.
