Archive · 25 Jan 2026
U.S. Forces Arrest Venezuelan President Maduro
The U.S. sent forces to Venezuela to arrest President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
They were taken to the U.S. to go on trial for drug trafficking.
Many people are upset because the U.S. broke international law by going into another country's territory.
The U.S. says they have the right to try Maduro, but others say he should be protected as a leader of a country.
The U.S. courts might decide they can try Maduro because of a legal rule that says they can try people no matter how they were brought to court.
U.S. forces arrested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on January 3 in Venezuela.
They were extradited to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges in the Southern District of New York.
The arrest is seen as a violation of Venezuela's territorial sovereignty and international law.
International law experts criticize the arrest, citing violations of the UN Charter and customary international law.
The U.S. courts may assert jurisdiction over Maduro's case under the Ker-Frisbie Doctrine.
- Who
- Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela, and his wife Cilia Flores
- What
- Arrest and extradition to the United States to face drug trafficking charges
- When
- January 3
- Where
- Venezuela
- Why
- Alleged trafficking of illicit drugs
- Date of Arrest
- January 3
- Location of Arrest
- Venezuela
- Charges Faced
- Trafficking illicit drugs
- Court Location
- Southern District of New York
- International Law Violation
- Territorial sovereignty
- UN Charter Violation
- Article 2(4)
- Immunity Violation
- Customary international law and Article 1 of 'Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts 2001'
- Legal Doctrine
- Ker-Frisbie Doctrine
