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Operation to seize Maduro involved months of covert planning
The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last week followed an extensive intelligence operation that spanned months, according to US officials and former operatives. A CIA team entered Venezuela in August, operating without diplomatic cover in what intelligence circles call a "denied area." Their mission: identify targets and recruit local assets to track Maduro's movements.
Critical source inside Maduro's inner circle
US authorities confirmed a single, high-level source provided real-time intelligence on Maduro's location-a detail critical to the raid's success. While the individual's identity remains classified, reports suggest they were embedded within the Venezuelan government, likely part of Maduro's closest circle. Speculation about their fate and motives continues, but no further details have emerged.
Intelligence mosaic guided unprecedented raid
Human intelligence gathered on the ground was combined with technical assets, including satellite imagery and mapping, to form a comprehensive operational plan. David Fitzgerald, a former CIA Latin America Chief of Operations, described the execution as flawless: "This worked like clockwork. That doesn't happen often."
Approximately 150 aircraft participated, with helicopters flying at low altitudes to evade detection. The operation's speed and precision stunned observers, though some aspects remain unexplained.
Mysteries persist over Caracas blackout and air defenses
One of the operation's most puzzling elements was the sudden blackout in Caracas, which US President Donald Trump attributed to "a certain expertise." Speculation centers on US Cyber Command, which was publicly acknowledged for its role, suggesting a pre-planned cyber intrusion into Venezuela's power grid. However, details remain scarce.
Equally unclear is why Chinese and Russian air defenses failed to detect the incoming forces. Analysts suspect advanced electronic warfare or jamming technology was deployed, with US Space Command credited for creating a covert entry corridor. Stealth drones may have also played a role, though specifics are classified.
Battle at Maduro's compound raises questions
Few details have emerged about the firefight at Maduro's residence, Fuerte Tiuna. The Cuban government reported 32 of its nationals-Maduro's bodyguards-were killed. Former CIA operative Fitzgerald noted that Venezuelan security forces were largely absent from the inner perimeter, raising suspicions of possible regime complicity.
US forces reached Maduro as he attempted to barricade himself in a steel safe room. While blowtorches and explosives were prepared to breach the door, the rapid apprehension suggests precise advance knowledge of the compound's layout.
Classified assessment shaped post-Maduro strategy
Ahead of the raid, the CIA conducted a classified analysis of potential outcomes following Maduro's removal. Reports indicate the assessment favored collaborating with elements of the existing regime, particularly Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, over installing the exiled opposition. This conclusion reportedly influenced the decision to proceed with the operation.
Back-channel communications with regime figures may explain the mission's timing and success, though the full extent of these discussions remains undisclosed. The next steps for Venezuela's political transition are still taking shape.
