Nicolás Maduro, who rose from a bus driver to Venezuela’s President and presided over the country’s democratic erosion and economic collapse, was captured during a U.S. military operation on Saturday (January 3, 2026). Follow the LIVE updates on the Venezuela bombing hereMr. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are currently in New York. For months, the U.S. administration had accused Mr. Maduro, 63, of involvement in drug trafficking to the United States. Mr. Maduro repeatedly denied the accusations, saying that U.S. President Donald Trump was targeting Venezuela to gain control of its oil resources. Below is a detailed timeline tracing the rise and fall of the Venezuelan leader:

Source: The Hindu January 05, 2026 09:59 UTC