Photo by the media. Minister of Defense of Venezuela, Vladimir Padrino López
“The National Armed Forces resolutely condemn the cowardly kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro, the constitutional president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and his wife, the First Lady, Dr. Cilia Flores de Maduro. This crime was committed on January 3, 2026, accompanied by the cold-blooded murder of a significant part of his security team, including both soldiers and civilians,” the statement said.
Additionally, Padrino López added that today the Venezuelan parliament will resume its work in normal mode.
Earlier, The New York Times, citing a high-ranking official, reported that as a result of the United States' attack on Venezuela, at least 40 people were killed, including both military and civilians. Later, the figures were updated, stating that there were at least 80 fatalities.
It is worth noting that on the night of January 3, explosions were heard in the capital of Venezuela. It became known that the U.S. Air Force carried out a special operation during which Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and forcibly taken out of the country to one of the prisons in New York.
The former president of Venezuela has been charged with leading the criminal organization Cartel de los Soles, which is recognized as a terrorist organization in the United States, as well as complicity with Colombian groups involved in the production and trafficking of drugs, along with his wife, son, and closest associates.
In addition, Nicolás Maduro is accused of trafficking Venezuelan diplomatic passports, providing cover for drug trafficking, and using criminal organizations to eliminate competitors.
