A Venezuelan flag flies during a protest against the American operation aimed at capturing the Venezuelan president, in front of the United States embassy in Madrid, on Jan. 4, 2026. (Credit: Thomas Coex/AFP)
A person within the Venezuelan government recruited by the CIA provided U.S. authorities with information on President Nicolas Maduro’s whereabouts, leading to his capture Saturday by U.S. special forces, The New York Times reported, citing sources familiar with the operation.
The source, whose identity was not disclosed, tracked Maduro in the days — and moments — leading up to his capture, the newspaper said. The circumstances of the person’s recruitment remain unclear.
Former U.S. officials told NYT that Washington had offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture.
In August, the CIA deployed a group of agents operating clandestinely inside Venezuela to gather intelligence on Maduro’s movements and daily routine, according to a person familiar with the agency’s activities.
The NYT reported that President Donald Trump authorized the CIA last fall to adopt a more aggressive approach toward Venezuela and approved, in November, the planning and preparation of a series of operations in the country.
Drone surveillance
Maduro was also monitored using a fleet of stealth drones that provided near-constant surveillance, combined with intelligence from Venezuelan sources, the newspaper said.
One informed source described the operation as the result of months of detailed planning and close coordination between the CIA and the U.S. military. A senior U.S. official told the Times that Maduro was precisely located from the earliest stages of the operation, which was carried out by U.S. military special forces.
Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chavez in 2013 and was inaugurated less than a year ago for a third term, disputed by the opposition, had maintained a firm grip on power in the oil-rich country. He was removed from office on Saturday after being captured and extracted by U.S. forces, following a night marked by airstrikes on Caracas and surrounding areas.
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