Nicolás Maduro Moros
El Obrero, El Chófer de Chávez
Mixed record — some positive, some negative
Person
Captured
Person
Captured
DictatorWar CriminalNarco-TerroristCorruptHuman Rights AbuserElection FraudsterIndictedVenezuelaColombiaCuba
Born / Founded
November 23, 1962 · Caracas, Venezuela
Bounty
$50,000,000 (U.S.)
Goodwill
5/10
Affiliations
PSUVCartel de los SolesFARCTren de AraguaCuban Intelligence
Summary
Nicolás Maduro Moros served as the self-proclaimed President of Venezuela from 2013 to his capture in January 2026. His rule was characterized by economic collapse, hyperinflation, and the largest refugee exodus in Western Hemisphere history — over 7.89 million Venezuelans fled the country by 2024. The UN formally characterized his government conduct as crimes against humanity. He was captured by U.S. special forces on January 3, 2026 during Operation Absolute Resolve and is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Timeline
2013
Assumes presidency after Chávez death. Wins narrow disputed election.
2014
Mass protests met with deadly crackdown. Human rights violations formally documented.
2017
Dissolves opposition-led National Assembly. UN downgrades Venezuela to authoritarian regime.
2018
Wins re-election in widely condemned fraudulent vote.
2019
UN establishes Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela.
2020
U.S. DOJ unseals narco-terrorism indictment. $15M bounty offered.
Feb 2024
Expels UN Human Rights office. Tren de Aragua assassinates Venezuelan exile in Chile on regime orders.
Jul 2024
Loses presidential election decisively. Declares victory anyway. 24+ killed in protests. 2,000+ arrested.
Sep 2024
Argentine court issues arrest warrant. U.S. seizes Maduro private jet in Dominican Republic.
Jan 2025
U.S. raises bounty to $25M. Illegally inaugurated for new term.
Aug 2025
U.S. raises bounty to $50M — largest ever on a foreign head of state.
Jan 3, 2026
Captured in Caracas by U.S. special forces. Flown to New York. Detained at MDC Brooklyn. Pleads not guilty.
Evidence & Sources
Related entries
Created
4/6/2026
Last Update
7/15/2026