Maduro wishes US agents 'good night' and 'Happy New Year' in released clip

Nicolás Maduro is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre, or MDC Brooklyn, in New York City, after landing at a small airport there on Saturday evening local time.

Footage released by authorities shows the now effectively former Venezuelan leader exiting an aircraft in handcuffs, surrounded by US agents.

In the published videos and pictures of him, Maduro is wearing sportswear, including a sports jacket and a hat accompanied with sweatpants, white socks and flip-flops.

That might indicate the speed of the operation and how it may have taken Maduro by surprise, with US network CNN reporting that he and his wife were asleep before being dragged from their bedroom when US military forces entered their residence.

'Good night and Happy New Year'

Footage released by US authorities shows the former dictator being frog-marched down a hallway by federal agents. They walk over a carpet stamped with "DEA NYD", "Rule of Law" and "Respect". Apparently upon noticing he is being filmed, Maduro is heard saying "Good night and Happy New Year”.

In a separate video, Maduro appeared injured as US officials pulled him out of a vehicle. The footage raised speculation that he may have been wounded during his capture in Caracas.

Operation 'Absolute Resolve'

The US military operation to capture Maduro took place early on Saturday, with at least seven blasts heard around the capital Caracas in an attack that lasted less than 30 minutes.

Despite it apparently being a surprise, Trump stated afterwards that Maduro’s safe house was a military "fortress" in the heart of Caracas. "They were in a ready position waiting for us. They knew we were coming," he added.

Describing the attack further, he remarked "they just broke in, and they broke into places that were not really able to be broken into, you know, steel doors that were put there for just this reason”.

US Air Force General Caine, who is also a chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided more information on its tactical background - "The apprehension force descended into Maduro's compound and moved with speed, precision and discipline," he said, adding that the "meticulously planned" mission involved more than 150 aircraft.