Venezuela, once the richest democracy in Latin America, a nation of promise, now a land of ruin.

For years, the world watched the collapse, hyperinflation, starvation, a mass exodus of millions fleeing a dictatorship.

But behind the political posturing, a darker truth was festering.

Not only was Nicholas Maduro a dictator, but according to U.S. investigators,

he was also the head of a terrorist cartel.

I'm Emily Campano, and this is the Fox True Crime podcast.

Music True Crime Podcast. On January 3rd, 2026, the standoff finally reaches a breaking point. 10,000 U.S. Marines off the coast, U.S. warships circling, airspace closed, And then Operation Absolute Resolve. In a heart-pounding extraction,

U.S. Delta Force operators invade the palace. 32 Cuban bodyguards neutralized, zero American casualties,

and the untouchable leader, Nicholas Maduro, taken away in chains,

along with his wife, Celia Flores, from the presidential palace to a federal prison cell in New York.

How did we get here? And what does this mean for the future and safety of Americans?

Joining me today is former acting DEA administrator, Derek Maltz.

The capture of Nicholas Maduro administrator, the stuff of legends and frankly, very

key highlight of the history books.

Talk to us about how big a move it was that the Trump administration successfully

completed this, sir. So, Emily, first of all, it's great to see how this president and the

administration has kept their promises to place the American city, I'm sorry, the American

citizen safety and security first, right?

President Trump right now has created what I call this powerful force of good to defeat evil, right?

So it's about time that the government treated the cartels as terrorists and held those corrupt leaders like Nicholas Maduro and others accountable for their years of

treachery and destroying our communities and families throughout America.

And years of treachery, I mean, you've been sounding the alarm on Maduro for years.

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