The meticulously orchestrated capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro represents a watershed moment in modern intelligence and military operations. New disclosures reveal an unprecedented multi-agency mission involving months of strategic planning and cutting-edge technological warfare.
Operating in what intelligence communities classify as a ‘denied area’ without diplomatic cover, CIA operatives conducted extensive ground reconnaissance in Venezuela throughout August. Their success hinged on a crucial government source within Maduro’s inner circle who provided real-time intelligence on the leader’s movements—a testament to the penetration of his security apparatus.
The operational execution demonstrated remarkable coordination: approximately 150 aircraft participated in the mission, with helicopters flying at ultra-low altitudes to evade detection. The involvement of US Cyber Command proved pivotal, as their expertise facilitated a city-wide blackout in Caracas that provided critical cover for special forces insertion. Simultaneously, US Space Command created an invisible ‘pathway’ for forces to approach undetected, while advanced electronic warfare systems reportedly neutralized Chinese and Russian air defense systems.
The assault on Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex, resulted in the deaths of 32 Cuban nationals serving as Maduro’s personal security detail. Notably absent were Venezuelan security forces at the compound’s inner perimeter, raising questions about possible internal collaboration. US forces intercepted Maduro moments before he could secure himself in a reinforced safe room, demonstrating precise knowledge of the compound’s layout.
Pre-operation analysis by CIA strategists concluded that maintaining stability would require cooperation with elements of the existing regime rather than installing exiled opposition figures. This assessment paved the way for back-channel communications with Maduro’s inner circle, including Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, to discuss transitional arrangements.
The mission’s flawless execution—achieved without US casualties—marks a paradigm shift in combined intelligence and military operations, though many technological and strategic details remain classified. America’s adversaries are now undoubtedly analyzing the operation to understand the full scope of capabilities demonstrated.