In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump shared a photograph on his Truth Social platform over the weekend, purporting to show the detained Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro aboard a U.S. aircraft. This follows Maduro’s capture as he faces drug-trafficking charges in the United States.

According to Trump, the Venezuelan socialist was riding aboard the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship presumably present in the Caribbean as part of “Operation Southern Spear,” the Pentagon’s mission to eliminate illicit drug trafficking vessels in international waters off the coast of Florida. Much of that trafficking, American and other international officials have documented, is fueled by the work of the Cartel de los Soles, a multicontinental cocaine trafficking syndicate that Maduro leads, according to law enforcement.

Maduro, who has held the reins of power in Venezuela for many years, was reportedly taken into custody by American forces in Caracas during the early hours on Saturday. The U.S. government has long accused Maduro of playing a central role in international drug trafficking and had offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest. As of now, it remains unclear if anyone has claimed this reward in connection with Saturday’s operation.

The arrest news was quickly followed by an announcement from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who unveiled a detailed indictment against Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, often referred to as Venezuela’s “first combatant.” The charges include “Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices” in relation to the United States.

The Maduro regime, under his leadership, has also been implicated in various human rights abuses over the past decade, with activists documenting severe actions against political opponents, including minors.

At a news conference on Saturday morning, following the release of the arrest photo, Trump confirmed that the military operation to detain Maduro was a resounding success, with no casualties among U.S. military personnel. He indicated that the U.S. plans to facilitate a transition back to constitutional democracy in Venezuela, emphasizing a preference for minimal involvement. However, Trump mentioned the possibility of a “second wave” of military intervention, suggesting it would be “much bigger,” though he expressed optimism that it would be unnecessary given the success of the initial operation.

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