Americans were taken aback by the startling news that Delta Force operatives had whisked away Nicolas Maduro from his bedroom.

However, Seth Harp, an investigative journalist well-versed in the clandestine operations of special forces, wasn’t surprised by the development.

This seasoned reporter, renowned for his book “The Fort Bragg Cartel” which rocked the military establishment, highlighted that the Trump administration had clearly signaled their intentions to take action.

The breathtaking pre-dawn raid on Saturday was the dramatic peak of escalating tensions between the United States and the Venezuelan government over recent months.

In the early morning darkness, Black Hawks and Chinooks could be seen hovering over Caracas, as soldiers stormed into Maduro’s bedroom, capturing him and his wife.

They were quickly transferred to the USS Iwo Jima before boarding a flight to New York City where they will be imprisoned and later face trial on sweeping charges.

President Trump, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth all watch the Maduro mission unfold from a temporary situation room created at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach in the early hours of Saturday 

Military aircraft parked at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico on Saturday. More than 150 planes including fighters, bombers and drones were deployed to guarantee the success of the Maduro mission

For Harp, the stealth attack was only possible due to the covert operations that were undertaken by the CIA, and he shed light on how their plans would have unfolded.

He told the Daily Mail: ‘A great deal of planning and surveillance [went into this].

‘They have informants, they have collaborators, they have spies inside the Venezuelan government, no doubt that they have bought off by giving them large amounts of money and offering to relocate their families.’

Insiders suggest the CIA’s operation started in August, but it remains unclear if the initial plans predate this.

Harp said one of the first things the US would have done was to ‘recruit traitors’ who are ‘willing to betray the Venezuelan government.’

He continued: ‘That’s probably the most important thing, because that gives an insight into Maduro’s movements.’

The military would have also had to gain surveillance and could have done so through the use of aircrafts and satellites and electronic intercepts.

They could have also used undercover US operatives, who could have been planting eavesdropping devices, Harp suggested.

President Trump shared this humiliating photo of Maduro after his capture on Saturday afternoon

But Harp pointed out that while the CIA and military plotted the operation, it could not have gone ahead without the president’s agreement.

He said: ‘It’s unimaginable to me that they would have abducted Maduro without that specific order coming from Trump.’

As for what comes next for Venezuela, it’s not looking good, Harp said. He continued: ‘Trump has said they’re going to run the country.

‘So contending with a population that doesn’t see them as legitimate is going to be an obstacle. Their lack of control over the security forces will be  big obstacle.’ 

He also said the ‘violent way’ the Trump Administration has gone about removing Maduro will also cause problems keeping the peace in the Latin American country.

He said: ‘These are all the same obstacles that the United States confronted in past regime change wars, which led to those operations failing. 

‘So the prospects don’t look good in Venezuela.’ In the past, Harp said, the reigning president lost popularity among US citizens after a coup.

But more importantly, a coup has led to mass immigration with millions seeking asylum from the unstable countries after the US intervened.

Wrecked anti-aircraft apparatus and a trashed bus are seen in Caracas as dawn rose on Saturday morning 

Nicolas Maduro and wife Cilia are seen in January 2024. The pair will now be brought to New York City to face federal charges

Delta Force soldiers arrived at the Maduro compound at 1:01am ET Saturday – or 2:01am Caracas time.

The pair were put on a helicopter guarded by fighter jets and flown to the USS Iwo Jima, landing on the war ship at 3:29am ET.

Maduro and his wife were flown to Guantanamo Bay and on to New York City, where the pair face drug smuggling and weapons charges.

Trump claims Maduro was head of the Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns), which he claims flooded the US with cocaine.

Maduro was indicted over his alleged involvement in 2020. His wife was not charged at the time and Trump has yet to clarify what charges she faces.

Trump shocked the world on Saturday by saying the US will ‘run’ Venezuela until a suitable new leader could be found.