Wahington, 4 January 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was taken to a New York detention centre late on Saturday, US media reported, after being captured by the United States in surprise airstrikes on multiple targets on Venezuelan territory.

The shock move by the US represents an extraordinary attempt to remove the leadership in Venezuela after months of Washington ramping up pressure on Maduro's authoritarian government.

At a press conference in his Mar-a-Lago resort, US President Donald Trump confirmed the strike on the Venezuelan leader.

US media reported Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had arrived in the US and were transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn via helicopter late on Saturday.

The White House's rapid response account on X shared footage appearing to show Maduro being led through a hallway.

The video, captioned "perp walked," shows Maduro handcuffed and escorted by US Drug Enforcement Administration officers.

Earlier, US television stations showed footage of a plane believed to have been carrying Maduro at a military airport near New York City, from which an unidentified group disembarked.

According to US Attorney General Pam Bondi, Maduro and his wife are facing indictments in New York. They are accused of crimes related to drug trafficking, she stated on X.

Specifically, Maduro is accused of "Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy" and "Cocaine Importation Conspiracy." He is also accused of possessing machine guns and explosives.

Rodríguez to be interim president

Venezuela's Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume interim leadership of the country, local media reported on Saturday evening.

Presiding Judge Tania D'Amelio said Rodríguez would assume the presidency on an interim basis to ensure the government's continuity and the nation's defence, media outlets El Universal and El Nacional reported.

In remarks during a National Defence Council meeting, ahead of the court's ruling, Rodríguez demanded Maduro's immediate release.

Rodríguez called Maduro the "only president" of Venezuela and described the US attack as a "terrible stain" on bilateral relations.

"We will never be slaves again," she said, calling the attack a violation of the UN Charter.

Trump had said earlier that his administration wanted to work with Rodríguez: "Just had a conversation with her, and she's essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to Make Venezuela Great Again, very simple."

Nobel laureate calls for democratic transfer

Nobel Peace laureate María Corina Machado called on Saturday for opposition politician Edmundo González Urrutia to become president, in a call also backed by French President Emmanuel Macron.

"The upcoming transition must be peaceful, democratic and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people," Macron said, adding: "We hope that Edmundo González Urrutia, elected president in 2024, will be able to ensure this transition quickly."

Trump: Washington to retain control

The US plans to temporarily run Venezuela, Trump said.

"So we are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition, and it has to be judicious, because that's what we're all about," he said during the press conference.

"We want peace, liberty and justice for the great people of Venezuela."

The US has ramped up its military campaign in recent months against alleged drug smuggling linked to Venezuela, striking numerous supposed drug boats in the Pacific and the Caribbean.

It sanctioned and seized oil tankers, and targeted a port.

Following Maduro's re-election in 2024, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud, the government in Washington no longer recognized the left-wing politician as the legitimate head of state.

Maduro had previously accused the Trump administration of trying to force regime change in Caracas.

Casualties in Venezuela

Venezuelan soldiers and civilians were killed in the US airstrikes that targeted several locations in the country, Rodríguez said in a national address on state television.

According to media reports, the strikes - described by the Venezuelan government as an "extremely serious military aggression" - were mainly directed against military bases, airfields, communication facilities and ports.

Images published by the Venezuelan television station NTN24 showed explosions and clouds of smoke.

Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino called for resistance to the US. "They have attacked us, but they will not break us," Padrino said in a video message. "United, the soldiers and the people form an indestructible wall of resistance." All troops would be deployed for national defence, he said.

Venezuela's allies outraged

Russia has condemned what it described as "armed aggression" against its ally Venezuela by the US and called for the release of Maduro and his wife.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement it was now important to prevent further escalation and seek a dialogue, and that Russia was ready to play a supportive role.

China was "deeply shocked by" and strongly condemned the US attack, the Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the Foreign Ministry.

Iran's Foreign Ministry also sharply condemned the US attack, describing it as "a clear violation of the principles of the UN Charter as well as fundamental rules of international law," according to state news agency IRNA.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an urgent meeting of the Organization of American States and the United Nations.

UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed alarm at the recent escalation in Venezuela and Maduro's ouster. Several countries and the EU stressed adherence to international law.

The UN Security Council is to convene an emergency meeting on Monday at the request of Venezuela.

Photo: White House