Nicolás Maduro Moros (born November 23, 1962, in Caracas, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan politician who served as the president of Venezuela from 2013 until his deposition and subsequent capture by United States forces in January 2026. Formerly a bus driver and union leader, he rose through the ranks of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) to become the protégé of President Hugo Chávez, eventually ascending to the presidency. Following his ouster, he has become the subject of high-profile international criminal proceedings in the United States. Born in Caracas, Maduro grew up in a working-class family and began his career as a bus driver in the Caracas Metro system. His entry into politics occurred through his involvement in the Caracas Metro workers' union, where he gained a reputation as a charismatic negotiator and organizer. He became an early supporter of Hugo Chávez and the Fifth Republic Movement, and he was elected to the National Assembly in 1998. Over the subsequent decade, he served as the president of the National Assembly and as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, acting as one of Chávez's most trusted confidants. In 2012, he was appointed as the Vice President of Venezuela. Following the death of Hugo Chávez in 2013, Maduro served as acting president before narrowly winning a special presidential election later that year. His tenure was marked by severe economic instability, hyperinflation, and persistent political unrest. Under his leadership, Venezuela experienced a sharp decline in socioeconomic conditions, leading to mass emigration and widespread shortages of basic goods. Internationally, his administration faced mounting pressure; by 2019, numerous nations, including the United States, ceased to recognize his legitimacy as president, citing irregularities in his re-election campaigns. In the 2024 presidential election, Maduro declared victory, a result that was widely disputed by opposition leaders and international observers who alleged significant electoral fraud. Throughout his presidency, the United States Department of Justice repeatedly accused Maduro and his inner circle of involvement in organized crime, specifically alleging that he managed the "Cartel of the Suns," a network of high-ranking officials involved in drug trafficking. In March 2020, the U.S. government indicted Maduro on charges of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and weapons-related offenses. On January 3, 2026, the trajectory of Maduro’s political career ended abruptly when U.S. military and law enforcement forces conducted a large-scale operation in Caracas, resulting in his capture alongside his wife, Cilia Flores. The couple was transported to New York City and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. On January 5, 2026, Maduro appeared in a U.S. federal court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. As of March 2026, he remains incarcerated at the Brooklyn facility while awaiting trial. Following his removal, former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed the role of acting president in Venezuela, leaving the country's political future in a state of transition.