C.I.A. Source Inside Venezuelan Government Helped Track Maduro
The New York Times••world
Key Points:
- A CIA source inside the Venezuelan government tracked Nicolás Maduro's location leading up to his capture by U.S. special operations forces, providing critical intelligence for the mission.
- The CIA utilized stealth drones for near-constant surveillance over Venezuela, supplementing intelligence from its Venezuelan informants.
- The recruitment of the Venezuelan source remains unclear, but the U.S. government's $50 million reward for information on Maduro likely aided the agency.
- Under CIA Director John Ratcliffe, the agency adopted a more aggressive stance, with President Trump authorizing covert operations in Venezuela starting last fall.
- The capture operation was a coordinated effort between the CIA and U.S. military special operations, involving months of planning and classified drone strikes targeting Venezuel
