PHOTO CONFIRMED: Maduro in U.S. Custody Following Kinetic Raid; Direct Military Engagement Verified

CARACAS/WASHINGTON — The first image of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in U.S. custody emerged Saturday morning, confirming that U.S. forces have executed a direct military extraction of the foreign leader. The operation, involving a series of kinetic strikes and a ground raid, marks a definitive escalation in hostilities between Washington and Caracas.

The photograph provides visual verification that Maduro has been physically detained by U.S. personnel, satisfying the criteria for U.S. government custody. According to reports from Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed to congressional leadership that Maduro was extracted by elite U.S. units, including Delta Force, and will face trial on narcoterrorism charges filed in 2020. This involuntary extraction preempts speculation regarding voluntary exile to nations such as Qatar or Russia.

The raid represents the culmination of a rapid military escalation that confirms the threshold for "military engagement" has been met. Background briefing materials indicate the capture was the result of significant combat operations rather than a surrender. Between Dec. 30 and Jan. 1, U.S. military forces conducted airstrikes on Venezuelan docking facilities and intercepted vessels identified as "narco-boats." These actions were followed by the raid on defense headquarters in Caracas early Saturday. The Trump administration has characterized these kinetic events as part of a counter-narcotics operation against the Cartel de los Soles.

The operation resolves a tense diplomatic standoff. Just days prior, Maduro had appeared on state television offering to restart dialogue and open the oil sector to U.S. investment. The White House publicly dismissed the offer, citing the recently increased $50 million bounty on Maduro’s head as the only standing term of engagement.

The extraction leaves a volatile security vacuum in Caracas. Following the raid, remaining government officials have called for supporters to enforce a "state of external disturbance." While the long-term geopolitical fallout remains uncertain, the immediate status of the Venezuelan presidency is clear: Nicolás Maduro has been removed from power and is currently being held under U.S. authority.