U.S. snatches Maduro in raid on Caracas: what we know so far

The U.S. Department of Justice's indictment and bounty placed on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in March 2020 marked a significant escalation in the long-standing tensions between Washington and Caracas. This move, alleging charges of narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and corruption, followed months and even years of sustained U.S. pressure, including economic sanctions, aimed at isolating the Maduro regime and supporting the opposition leader Juan Guaidó.

**Background Context:** Venezuela, a nation blessed with the world's largest proven oil reserves, plunged into a severe political and economic crisis following the death of its charismatic leader Hugo Chávez in 2013 and the subsequent ascent of Nicolás Maduro. Maduro's presidency has been characterized by hyperinflation, widespread shortages of food and medicine, a collapse of public services, and a mass exodus of millions of Venezuelans, creating one of the largest refugee crises in recent history. The U.S. and several other nations, including many in Latin America, have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate interim president since January 2019, deeming Maduro's 2018 re-election illegitimate. The U.S. has applied increasing economic sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry, state-owned companies, and individuals associated with the Maduro government, aiming to cripple the regime financially.

**What Happened:** In March 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice announced criminal charges against Nicolás Maduro and more than a dozen other current and former Venezuelan officials. The charges included narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and corruption, alleging that Maduro and his associates conspired with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) to flood the U.S. with cocaine. A reward of $15 million was offered for information leading to Maduro's arrest. While the article's title