The United States on Saturday announced drug trafficking and terrorism-related charges against Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro, following what President Donald Trump described as a large-scale military operation against the South American country.
Trump disclosed the development in a post on his Truth Social account, claiming that U.S. forces had captured Maduro and flown him out of Venezuela.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” Trump wrote.
He added that the operation was carried out in collaboration with U.S. law enforcement agencies.
“This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement,” he stated.
Trump also announced that he would address the matter further during a news conference scheduled for 11:00 a.m. (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
The announcement comes as Trump is nearing the end of a two-week Christmas and New Year vacation at the resort.
Further details surrounding the charges and the circumstances of the operation were not immediately disclosed.