Nicolas Maduro
Throws Up Peace Sign in Federal Custody After Landing in New York
Published
January 3, 2026
6:17 PM PST
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TMZ.com
Nicolas Maduro’s gone from president in Venezuela to prisoner in the United States … and, we’ve got the first clear images of him in federal custody.
TMZ has obtained two videos of the deposed Latin American leader shortly after he landed in New York City … and, he actually looks pretty relaxed for someone facing drug charges in the U.S.
Check it out … after unloading Maduro from a truck they walk him right past the camera — and the former prez flashes a peace sign.
When compared to the other clip — where a large contingent of law enforcement walks him across a tarmac and into a nondescript building.
The White House released a clip of Maduro’s perp walk as well … with two DEA agents leading him down a hallway while he wishes onlookers a happy new year.
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CNN
We did see a person believed to be Maduro disembark from a plane earlier in the day … though the video was taken from high above — and it was hard to make out much of him in the crowd of law enforcement officers.
He was then flown by helicopter to a secondary location … where the videos we obtained were taken.
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The White House
As you know … President Donald Trump announced Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were arrested after a large-scale military action in Venezuela. President Trump says the United States will “run” Venezuela “until such time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”
Maduro is now being held in MDC Brooklyn … the notorious prison that held Diddy during his sex trafficking trial and currently holds Luigi Mangione.
