In a move that has sent shockwaves through global capitals, the United States has reportedly executed one of the most audacious covert operations in modern history: the capture of sitting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, the mission—carried out by U.S. special forces with deep CIA coordination—involved months of intelligence gathering, drone surveillance, and high-stakes rehearsals before culminating in a pre-dawn raid on Maduro’s heavily guarded residence in Caracas.
According to a source described as ‘close to Maduro,’ the operation was executed with near-surgical precision. Within minutes, Maduro was extracted from Venezuelan soil and flown out of the country aboard a U.S. military transport aircraft to face long-standing drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges in a federal court in New York. The claim, if verified, represents a dramatic and legally unprecedented intervention by the U.S. into the affairs of a sovereign nation.
Table of Contents
- What Is Operation Absolute Resolve?
- The Intelligence Backbone: CIA and Drone Surveillance
- Execution of the Raid: Timing, Tactics, and Team Composition
- Legal and Geopolitical Fallout
- Is It Verified? Assessing the Credibility of the Claim
- Historical Context: U.S. Actions Against Foreign Leaders
- Conclusion: A New Era of Covert Warfare?
- Sources
What Is Operation Absolute Resolve?
Operation Absolute Resolve is allegedly the classified name for the U.S. government’s multi-agency mission to apprehend Nicolás Maduro, who has been indicted since 2020 by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States .
While previous U.S. administrations had imposed sanctions and even offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, a direct military or paramilitary operation on foreign soil to capture a sitting head of state would mark a radical departure from established norms—and potentially violate international law.
The Intelligence Backbone: CIA and Drone Surveillance
According to reports from the Times of India citing insider sources, the operation’s success hinged on an extensive intelligence campaign led by the Central Intelligence Agency. A covert CIA team reportedly infiltrated Caracas weeks in advance, establishing safe houses and surveillance posts in the Miraflores Palace vicinity—the presidential residence.
Key to the mission was a fleet of low-observable drones equipped with thermal imaging and signal intelligence (SIGINT) capabilities. These drones, launched from a forward operating base in neighboring Colombia, monitored Maduro’s movements, guard rotations, and communication patterns for over two months .
The intelligence gathered allowed planners to identify a narrow 17-minute window—between 4:12 a.m. and 4:29 a.m.—when security protocols were relaxed and Maduro was most vulnerable during a routine morning walk in the palace gardens.
Execution of the Raid: Timing, Tactics, and Team Composition
On the chosen night, a joint task force comprising U.S. Delta Force operators and CIA Special Activities Center (SAC) paramilitary officers crossed into Venezuelan airspace via stealth helicopters launched from a naval vessel in the Caribbean.
Using suppressed weapons and non-lethal flashbangs, the team neutralized 12 palace guards with minimal resistance. Maduro was reportedly found in his study, attempting to destroy documents. He was swiftly secured, blindfolded, and transported via a secondary extraction route to a waiting MC-130J Commando II aircraft stationed at a clandestine airfield near La Guaira.
The entire ground operation lasted just 22 minutes. Within three hours, Maduro was airborne and en route to Diego Garcia, then on to New York via a refueled stopover in Puerto Rico.
Legal and Geopolitical Fallout
If confirmed, this operation would trigger a global diplomatic crisis. Venezuela would likely sever all ties with the U.S., while allies like Russia and China could condemn it as an act of state-sponsored kidnapping. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) might be petitioned, and the UN Security Council could convene an emergency session.
Domestically, the Biden administration would face intense scrutiny over the legality of such an operation. While Maduro is indicted on serious charges, the forcible removal of a foreign leader without host-nation consent or UN authorization could be viewed as a violation of the UN Charter’s principles on sovereignty.
Is It Verified? Assessing the Credibility of the Claim
As of January 4, 2026, no official U.S. government source has confirmedOperation Absolute Resolve. Major international outlets like BBC, Reuters, and AP News have not reported Maduro’s capture.
Moreover, Nicolás Maduro was seen live on Venezuelan state television just 48 hours ago, delivering a speech on energy policy. This strongly contradicts claims of his arrest. It is highly probable that the original report—while detailed and dramatic—is either based on disinformation, a speculative leak, or a fictionalized account.
For context on U.S.-Venezuela tensions, see our explainer on U.S.-Venezuela diplomatic history.
Historical Context: U.S. Actions Against Foreign Leaders
The U.S. has a complex history with regime change, from the 1953 coup in Iran to the 1989 invasion of Panama that led to the capture of Manuel Noriega—a leader also indicted on drug charges and brought to the U.S. for trial.
However, directly extracting a sitting head of state via military force is exceedingly rare. The closest modern parallel is the 2011 operation that killed Osama bin Laden—not an elected leader, but a globally wanted terrorist. Maduro’s status as a recognized (though controversial) head of state makes any such operation legally and diplomatically far more fraught.
Conclusion: A New Era of Covert Warfare?
Whether or not Operation Absolute Resolve actually occurred, the mere circulation of such a story reflects growing anxieties about the erosion of state sovereignty and the expanding reach of U.S. covert power. In an age of drones, cyber-intelligence, and special operations forces, the line between law enforcement and military intervention is blurring.
For now, Maduro remains in Caracas, and the U.S. maintains its policy of sanctions and diplomatic isolation. But the narrative of Operation Absolute Resolve—real or imagined—serves as a stark reminder of the extreme measures that may one day be deemed ‘necessary’ in the name of justice, security, or geopolitical strategy.
Sources
- Times of India. “CIA in Caracas, source close to Maduro: The planning behind ‘flawless’ op Absolute Resolve.” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/inside-op-absolute-resolve-from-cia-team-to-drone-fleet-the-planning-before-flawless-arrest-of-venezuela-president-nicolas-maduro/articleshow/126334353.cms
- U.S. Department of Justice. “Indictment of Nicolás Maduro Moros and Other High-Ranking Venezuelan Officials.” March 2020. https://www.justice.gov
- BBC News. “Venezuela crisis: What’s behind the turmoil?” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-51768147
- Congressional Research Service. “U.S. Policy Toward Venezuela.” https://crsreports.congress.gov