Who is Nicolas Maduro, the recently captured president of Venezuela?

On Saturday, the United States announced it had launched a “large-scale strike” in Venezuela and captured the oil-rich country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.

The two men were “flown out of the country,” US President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

“This operation was carried out in collaboration with American law enforcement,” he added.

Maduro and his wife were indicted in New York, according to US Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media platform.

Venezuelans are reportedly waiting with bated breath to find out what happens next, while several world leaders have confirmed they are in contact with their embassies to monitor the aftermath of the attack – which marks the largest such intervention by the United States in Latin America since 1989.

As new information continues to surface, here are some key facts about Maduro, who has been accused by the Trump administration of running drug cartels and other crimes.

From bus driver to Chávez ally

Maduro, whose father was a union leader, was born on November 23, 1962 into a working-class family.

The 63-year-old was working as a bus driver in the early 1990s when army officer Hugo Chávez led a failed coup against the Venezuelan government and was imprisoned. Maduro then campaigned for his release, supporting Chávez’s left-wing agenda.

Maduro eventually won a seat in Parliament after Chávez’s 1998 electoral victory, quickly rising through the ranks of government.

Chávez, himself controversial, ultimately chose Maduro as his successor before Maduro was narrowly elected president in 2013 following Chávez’s death.

Maduro becomes president

Maduro’s administration has overseen a spectacular economic collapse characterized by hyperinflation and chronic shortages.

His rule has become best known for allegedly rigged elections, food shortages and rights abuses, including the harsh crackdown on protests in 2014 and 2017.

Millions of Venezuelans have emigrated abroad, notably to Canada.

Maduro was sworn in for a third term in January 2025, following a 2024 election widely condemned by international observers and the opposition as fraudulent. His victory was supported by Russia, Turkey and China.

Thousands of people protesting against the government’s declaration of victory were imprisoned.

Attacks on government opponents are not new, according to reports. A recent United Nations fact-finding mission discovered evidence serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity in Venezuela, committed by the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB), which is part of the country’s armed forces.

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“The facts we documented show the role of the GNB in ​​a system of systematic and coordinated repression against opponents or those perceived as such, which has continued for more than a decade,” said Marta Valiñas, who led the mission.

“The persistence of these crimes and the lack of adequate justice require a determined response from national and international accountability mechanisms. »

The Maduro government’s repressive actions became globally visible in 2025 after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who expressed support for Trump’s tactics.

Maduro captured by the United States, the world reacts

Maduro’s government has been subject to aggressive sanctions by the United States and other powers. In 2020, Washington indicted him on corruption and other charges. Maduro rejected these accusations and instead accused Trump of seeking Venezuelan oil. Maduro and his wife now face criminal charges in the United States

Yet politicians in the United States and around the world are questioning the legality of Saturday’s attack.

“I look forward to knowing what, if anything, could constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force,” Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said on X.