Executive Summary
- The DOJ, FBI, and DEA released a joint statement praising the successful execution of "Operation Absolute Resolve," which secured the custody of Nicolás Maduro.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the defendants have been transported to New York to face indictments related to narco-terrorism.
- President Trump issued a warning to Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, demanding compliance with U.S. counter-narcotics policies.
- Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López urged citizens to maintain normalcy following the arrests.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the U.S. is prioritizing policy reforms in Venezuela over immediate elections.
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a joint statement on Sunday commending the execution of "Operation Absolute Resolve," which resulted in the custody of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation, described by officials as the culmination of months of planning, marks a significant escalation in the United States’ efforts to prosecute alleged narco-terrorism and drug trafficking at the highest levels of the Venezuelan government.
According to the joint statement, the operation was conducted by specialized tactical units from the FBI and DEA, working alongside DOJ attorneys to secure the transfer of the defendants. Attorney General Pam Bondi attributed the mission’s success to intensive cooperation between the Department of Justice, defense partners, the State Department, and the intelligence community. Bondi stated that the mission was designed to support the prosecution of large-scale narcotics trafficking networks that have contributed to violence and instability in the region.
In a statement released following the operation, Attorney General Bondi emphasized that diplomatic avenues had been exhausted. "The responsibility for this outcome rests solely with those who chose to continue criminal conduct rather than disengage," the statement read. Bondi further credited "President Trump’s team" for the interagency trust that facilitated the high-risk transfer of the defendants to New York, where they face longstanding indictments.
Following the operation, Venezuela’s military endorsed the Supreme Court’s appointment of Delcy Rodríguez as acting president for a 90-day period. In response to this transition, President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to the interim leadership. Speaking to The Atlantic, President Trump stated that if Rodríguez does not comply with U.S. demands regarding the cessation of drug smuggling and the severance of ties with adversarial nations, she would face significant consequences. "If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro," President Trump told the publication.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López appeared on state television to urge calm, calling on the Venezuelan people to resume economic, work, and educational activities. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed immediate discussions regarding Venezuelan elections, noting that Washington is currently prioritizing policy shifts in Caracas over polling.
Diplomatic and Judicial Implications
The extradition of a former head of state to the United States for trial represents a profound shift in the application of extraterritorial jurisdiction regarding narco-terrorism charges. The upcoming legal proceedings in New York will likely serve as a precedent for how U.S. courts handle evidence gathered during complex international extraction operations. Furthermore, the installation of an interim government in Caracas creates a volatile diplomatic landscape, as the Trump administration attempts to leverage the arrests to force immediate policy compliance from the new leadership under Delcy Rodríguez. It is important to note that all individuals, including Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
