Unraveling the Intelligence Behind Maduro's Capture

Sat Jan 10 2026 06:41:50 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A detailed look into the intelligence operation to apprehend Nicolás Maduro, revealing the intricate planning and execution involved, along with lingering mysteries.

As details emerge about the intelligence operation leading to the capture of Nicolás Maduro, the complexities of the mission shine through. The CIA's undercover efforts and the strategic importance of human intelligence highlight the intricacy of the operation, while unanswered questions remain about certain tactics used and the involvement of various elements within the Venezuelan regime.

The continued mysteries surrounding the intelligence operation to capture Maduro

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A week on from the dramatic raid that captured Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, details of the intelligence surrounding the operation are becoming clearer, but some mysteries still remain.

The intelligence

The mission took months of planning and intelligence gathering. In August, the CIA is believed to have sent a team of undercover officers into Venezuela. The US does not have a functioning embassy in the country, so the team could not use diplomatic cover and were working in what is known in the intelligence worlds as a denied area. They were on the ground to scout targets and recruit people who could help.

US officials have said they had one particular source who was able to provide detailed intelligence on Maduro's whereabouts which would have been critical to the operation. Identities of such sources are normally highly protected but it quickly emerged it was a government source who must have been particularly close to Maduro and in his inner circle in order to know where he was going to be, and when.

All of the human intelligence on the ground fed into a mosaic of intelligence to plan the operation in conjunction with technical intelligence like mapping and satellite imagery.

The mission

The scale, speed, and success of the operation were unprecedented. This thing worked like clockwork. That doesn't happen often, explains David Fitzgerald, a former Latin America Chief of Operations for the CIA.
Around 150 aircraft were involved in the mission, with helicopters flying only a hundred or so feet above the terrain to get to Maduro's compound.

However, some mysteries still linger, such as how the US managed to turn off the lights in Caracas to facilitate the arrival of special forces. US President Trump hinted at expertise involved, leading to speculation about the role of US military hackers.

The battle

Despite the complexities, operations went according to plan with no US casualties. There are still few details about the battle at Maduro's compound, Fuerte Tiuna. The Cuban government reported that 32 of its nationals were killed in the operation. However, the effectiveness of Maduro's security has raised questions about potential complicity within the regime.

The plan

The CIA conducted a classified assessment of the implications of removing Maduro, concluding that collaboration with elements of the existing regime might ensure more stability than installing the exiled opposition.

These strategies helped clarify the mission's objectives and the channels used to ensure successful collaboration following Maduro's capture.