In early January 2026, reports emerged that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by U.S. forces during a military operation and transported to the United States to face federal charges, including narco-terrorism. This event triggered intense global interest and widespread online discussion. Alongside credible news coverage, a surge of misinformation circulated on social media, including manipulated images. While Maduro’s capture is a real and widely reported development, we found that the viral image claiming to show his arrest is AI-generated.
Social Media Posts
Multiple posts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X included images claiming to show Maduro in U.S. custody.
Fact Check
Nicolás Maduro’s Capture by U.S. Forces
Maduro’s capture itself has been reported by multiple major international news outlets. According to Reuters and other agencies, U.S. forces conducted a surprise military operation in Caracas on January 3, 2026, capturing Maduro and Cilia Flores and flying them to New York to face federal charges. The operation, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, involved special forces and follow-on legal action. Maduro is being held in U.S. custody and is set to appear in federal court in New York to address allegations including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. (Source)
Visual Analysis
Shortly after the United States confirmed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been taken into custody, former U.S. President Donald Trump shared an official image of Maduro in custody on social media, which was later reported by The New York Times. The image shows Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed aboard a U.S. naval vessel and differs clearly from the viral image circulating online, which depicts Maduro being escorted by armed soldiers on land. The setting, composition, uniforms, and overall visual details in Trump’s posted image do not match those in the viral photo, indicating they are not the same source or moment. (Source)
Further technical analysis strongly suggests that the viral image is AI-generated or AI-edited. According to Google SynthID, the image carries a watermark indicating that “this image was generated or edited using Google’s AI models.”
In addition, analysis using Undetectable AI classified the image as “99% likely to be AI-generated.”
Moreover, Shayan Sardarizadeh, a senior journalist at BBC Verify, has confirmed that this image, along with similar images from the same scene taken from different angles,is AI-generated.
In addition, a photograph by Bloomberg of an actual Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent from this incident shows that the real DEA uniform looks different from the viral image.
Our further investigation found that the image originated from Ian Weber, an AI artist who posted it on his X account on January 3. After the image went viral, he clarified in a post (translated): “This photo I created with AI went viral worldwide. I got contacted from the USA asking how I did it. If you’re interested in talking about it, I can give you the details!”
Other Recent Claims About Maduro
Fake “CBS News” Report Claim
One circulating screenshot purported to show a CBS News article claiming U.S. Democratic leaders tried to tip off Maduro before the military operation. Lead Stories debunked this, noting no such report exists on the CBS News site or other reputable outlets. The image was created as rage bait and did not originate from a real news broadcast or article. (Source)
Reused or Misidentified Footage and Photos
Beyond digitally altered images, many posts shared old or unrelated videos and photos while claiming they showed the Venezuela operation. Some clips originated from previous conflicts or events, then were relabeled as recent footage from Caracas, while other AI-generated videos reused manipulated stills to create false impressions of proof. This pattern reflects a broader wave of misinformation spreading rapidly following major geopolitical events.
When significant international news breaks, social media often sees a rapid spread of unverified information. AI tools can generate visuals that appear authentic, and the speed of sharing can exceed the pace of fact-checking. In this case, the event of Maduro’s capture was followed by the circulation of unverified images and narratives.(Source)
Conclusion
Nicolás Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces in January 2026 is a confirmed event reported by credible international news outlets. However, many images and claims circulating on social media in the aftermath are false, AI-generated, or misleading. Users should verify information through established news sources and be cautious of viral content that lacks credible attribution.
Title:Viral Image of Maduro’s Arrest Is AI-Generated, Capture Is Real
Fact Check By: Cielito WangResult: False
