Venezuela President Maduro Utters First Words After His Capture, Tells THIS To US Officers

New York: A day after being captured from what has been described as his fortress in the heart Caracas, Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro was produced at US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in New York.

In a video which has surfaced online, Maduro was seen being led away in handcuffs to a detention center in New York when he opened his mouth and delivered a message in just five words. 

What did Maduro say?

A video of Maduro speaking publicly for the first time about 24 hours after being taken to the US has surfaced and is going viral on social media. He is scheduled to appear in court next week.

The video showed the 63-year-old leader, who was handcuffed and in a black hooded sweatshirt, walking down a hallway inside the DEA headquarters in New York. 

"Good night and Happy New Year," the Venezuela president could be heard telling the officials present in the room.

Maduro is scheduled to appear before a federal court next week, where he will face several charges related to alleged drug trafficking and illegal arms deals. 

After the raid, US officers transferred the detained Venezuelan leader from one helicopter to another, which then departed for a detention center in Brooklyn. This is reportedly the same facility where high-profile prisoners such as Sam Bankman-Fried have previously been held. Maduro arrived at the detention center just before 9 p.m. on Saturday.

What was the reaction on social media?

Shared on the social media platform X the video has evoked a range of reactions, with some mocking Maduro's hat and others his message. Several users also took a jab at US foreign policy, highlighting the pretexts used for the invasions of Iraq and Venezuela.

What was the death toll of the Venezuela raid?

At least 40 people, including both civilians and military personnel, were reportedly killed in the US attack on Venezuela, according to a senior Venezuelan official. 

What is the future of Venezuela?

Trump has indicated that the US will control the administration in Venezuela for the immediate future.

He dismissed the prospect of Nobel Peace Prize-winning opposition leader Maria Corina Machado as a potential interim leader of Venezuela, asserting that the US government is working with deposed Nicolas Maduro's vice president. 
    
"I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country," Trump told the media in Washington.

"She's a very nice woman, but she doesn't have the respect," he added.

"We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition. We want peace, justice and liberty for the great people of Venezuela. We can't take a chance if somebody else takes over Venezuela, doesn't have the good of Venezuelan people in mind. We're not going to let that happen."