Nicolas Maduro Arrested By US Personnel, Taken To America To Face Criminal Charges: Utah Senator Mike Lee

In a dramatic development that has sharply escalated tensions between Washington and Caracas, Utah Senator Mike Lee on Saturday claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel and taken into custody to face criminal charges in the United States. The senator said he was personally briefed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describing the operation as a lawful action undertaken to protect American personnel.

In a post on social media platform X, Lee said he had spoken directly with Rubio, who informed him that Maduro had been apprehended and that the military action seen overnight was carried out to safeguard those executing the arrest warrant. According to Lee, the operation "likely falls within the president's inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution," which allows the U.S. president to act to protect American personnel from an actual or imminent threat. He thanked the Secretary of State for keeping him informed of what he described as a significant national security development.

In a subsequent post, Lee added that Rubio did not anticipate any further military or kinetic action in Venezuela now that Maduro was allegedly in U.S. custody, suggesting that the operation had achieved its immediate objective.

The senator's remarks came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump made a sensational announcement of his own. Posting on Truth Social, Trump said the United States had carried out a "large-scale strike" against Venezuela, during which President Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of the country." Trump claimed the operation was conducted in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies and said more details would be shared during a news conference scheduled for later in the day at his Mar-a-Lago residence.

Trump's statement marks a major escalation in the long-running standoff between the United States and the Maduro government. The U.S. president has repeatedly accused Maduro of leading what he has called a "narco-terrorist" regime and has blamed his administration for activities that Washington says threaten U.S. security and regional stability. In recent months, the United States has tightened sanctions on vessels it alleges are involved in transporting Venezuelan oil, while also stepping up military actions against Venezuelan boats accused of drug and narcotics trafficking. Trump has repeatedly called on Maduro to step down, accusing his government of engaging in hostile acts against the United States.

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government has strongly rejected the U.S. claims and condemned what it described as an act of military aggression. In an official statement issued on Saturday, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela accused Washington of violating the United Nations Charter and undermining peace and stability in the region. The statement alleged that U.S. forces carried out attacks on both civilian and military locations in Caracas as well as in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.

Caracas described the alleged actions as a flagrant breach of international law, citing Articles 1 and 2 of the UN Charter, which uphold national sovereignty and prohibit the use of force against another state. The Venezuelan government claimed the operation was aimed at seizing the country's strategic resources, particularly oil and minerals, and at undermining its political independence. It firmly rejected what it called attempts at "regime change," asserting that Venezuela has defended its sovereignty for more than 200 years.

The statement said the Bolivarian National Armed Forces had been deployed nationwide to ensure sovereignty and internal peace. It also said diplomatic channels would be activated to raise complaints before international bodies including the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Non-Aligned Movement.

According to the statement, President Maduro had ordered the implementation of national defence plans in line with the country's constitution and security laws and had signed a decree declaring a State of External Commotion across Venezuela. The government added that comprehensive defence command structures had been activated across states and municipalities and, invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter, said it reserved the right to exercise legitimate self-defence while calling on the international community to express solidarity with Venezuela.