A senior US lawmaker has claimed that US forces have arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and will take him to the United States to face criminal charges.
Republican Senator Mike Lee said he spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told him that the military action seen overnight was carried out to protect officials enforcing an arrest warrant.
Lee added that the US does not expect to take further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in US custody.
The claim follows an earlier announcement by US President Donald Trump, who said American forces had captured Maduro and his wife after what he described as a large-scale military strike on Venezuela.
Following Trump’s statement, Venezuela declared a state of emergency and accused the United States of military aggression. Residents in the capital, Caracas, reported loud explosions and fires in different parts of the city, describing scenes of fear and panic.
The United States has long accused Maduro of leading an international drug trafficking network, allegations he has repeatedly denied. Washington had placed a $50 million reward on information leading to his arrest, alongside increased military pressure in the region.