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By Mandy Taheri and Peter Aitken
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A plane carrying Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived in New York state on Saturday evening, according to the Associated Press.
The plane landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, about 70 miles from New York City, around 5 p.m. ET.
Why It Matters
In an overnight operation, the U.S. struck Caracas and captured Maduro and his wife at Trump's direction. In an image shared by Trump on Truth Social on Saturday, Maduro was seen blindfolded, handcuffed, holding a water bottle and wearing a grey Nike sweatsuit.
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Maduro, his wife, and his son have been formally indicted in the Southern District of New York, including on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said. Maduro had previously been indicted in March 2020 on "narco-terrorism" conspiracy charges in the same district, and in August 2025, the U.S. doubled its bounty to $50 million for information leading to his arrest. Maduro has denied any wrongdoing.
New York City leaders said they were aware of the Trump administration's operation and plans to bring Maduro to the city.
What To Know
Images shared by CNN show the plane landing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Orange County, New York, home to the 105th Airlift Wing. Videos published by several outlets show multiple people deboarding the aircraft in the dark.
Footage shows dozens of federal agents escorting someone who is believed to be Maduro off the plane; however, the footage is too dark to clearly depict the individual.
Trump said earlier on Saturday that Maduro was aboard the warship, USS Iwo Jima and later told reporters during a Saturday morning news conference that "Maduro and his wife will soon face the full might of American justice and stand trial on American soil."
Bondi noted that Maduro and his wife face charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy. The indictment also includes charges related to the possession of machineguns and destructive devices.
What Happens Next
Maduro is expected to be transported to New York City. It is unclear where he will be held, with the several outlets including CBS News, Fox News, and Axios, noting that it is likely he will be held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal facility in Brooklyn.
Newsweek has reached out to the Federal Bureau of Prisons for comment via email on Saturday evening.
Maduro is expected to face the drugs, weapons, and conspiracy charges in federal court in Manhattan early next week.
Updated 1/3/2026, 6:20 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Updated 1/3/2026, 5:48 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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