Reports claim that Venezuelans around the world have taken to the streets to celebrate the alleged capture of President Nicolás Maduro, who was reportedly flown out of the country and indicted in the United States on drug and weapons charges.
According to the reports, jubilant scenes unfolded both in Venezuela and across the diaspora, with many Venezuelans saying they had fled the country due to years of violence, hyperinflation, gang activity, and shortages of food and medicine. Since 2014, more than eight million people are said to have left Venezuela, creating one of the largest displacement crises in the world, according to the United Nations.
Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, has endured years of economic collapse, mass migration, and political instability under Maduro’s rule.
Following news of the alleged capture, crowds reportedly gathered in cities across Latin America, the United States, and Europe, waving Venezuelan and US flags, singing, and dancing. Many described the moment as symbolising the fall of a dictatorship.
One celebrant in Chile reportedly said, “I’ve come to celebrate because the dictatorship has fallen… We are free and happy that we will have a free country.” Another in Doral, Florida, said, “Justice is being served for all Venezuelans who were forced to leave. We want to return home to rebuild Venezuela.”
The reports also describe a US military operation in Caracas early on Saturday, during which explosions, low-flying aircraft, and smoke columns were allegedly observed. US officials reportedly called it a “brilliant operation” and said Maduro had long been under indictment for drug trafficking, with rewards for information leading to his capture reaching $50 million in 2025.
Reactions inside Venezuela were reportedly mixed. While some citizens celebrated, the country’s attorney general, Tarek William Saab, allegedly condemned the US operation, claiming civilian casualties and calling for peaceful protests. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez reportedly demanded proof that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were alive.
Internationally, reports suggest that Russia, a close ally of Venezuela, expressed concern and questioned whether the operation violated international law.
Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013 as head of the United Socialist Party, has been widely criticised by opponents and international observers for alleged authoritarianism, election manipulation, and overseeing economic collapse. If confirmed, his capture would represent one of the most dramatic geopolitical developments involving Venezuela in decades.
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