A video of captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has surfaced on social media. In the video, the leader has been seen walking inside the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) headquarters in New York on Saturday, being escorted by officers, NDTV reported.
In an attack launched by the United States military, Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in the capital of Caracas on Saturday. They were taken into US custody while the couple was reportedly asleep at their high-security Ft Tiuna military compound residence in Caracas.
The White House rapid response account 'Rapid Response 47' posted a video of the Venezuelan president's 'perp walk' inside the New York DEA HQ.
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What does the video show?
Maduro was seen handcuffed and in a black hooded sweatshirt. He was seen walking down a hallway. The Venezuelan leader has been heard saying "good night" and wishing "Happy New Year" to the officials in the room, the video showed.
Allegations against Nicolas Maduro
Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife, has been accused of narco-terrorism, sending large amounts of cocaine into the United States, and keeping illegal weapons.
The US carried out the mission named "Operation Absolute Resolve" to capture Nicolas Maduro. Elite American forces, including the Army's Delta Force, took part in the operation and detained the Venezuelan leader in about 30 minutes. Reports say Maduro was pulled into custody as he tried to escape to his steel-protected safe room. US officials said no American soldiers were killed during the mission.
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Venezuela on Trump's radar
US President Donald Trump had called for military strikes on drug cartels operating from Venezuela. In this respect, the United States deployed a large naval and aerial arsenal in the seas surrounding Venezuela. The US deployment included the USS Gerald R Ford and other warships, NDTV reported.
President Trump has repeatedly alleged that Venezuelan President Maduro has been the kingpin of drug cartels, which have been flooding the United States with narcotics. Trump had also accused the South American nation of encouraging illegal immigration into the US.
