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Comment from, impact on Vermont
By Guy Page
U.S. military forces early this morning, in a precision raid on Caracas, Venezuela, captured Pres. Nicholas Maduro and his wife. U.S. authorities are extraditing them to the U.S. to face American justice on drug and weapons charges.
Video from Venezuela shows rocket fire raining down on Caracas, bombs exploding in at least two separate locations, and several large helicopters flying over Caracas in the early morning hours.
At a pre-noon press conference, President Donald Trump said the U.S. will take over running the country until a peaceful transition can be made. He also said a second, much larger wave had been planned but will probably not be necessary.
“We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” the president said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote at about 8 AM this morning:
“Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.
“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers.”
Possible Vermont angles and impact:
Vermont F-35 involvement? It is not known if the Green Mountain Boys, the F-35 fighter jets stationed in South Burlington, participate in the raid. The unit was recently moved to Puerto Rico in anticipation of supporting military activity and drug interdiction in South America. VDC has inquired of Vermont National Guard leaders and will publish a reply as soon as it is received.
President Donald Trump told news media this morning that fighter jets were involved in the operation. Gen. ‘Raisin’ Cain said F-35s and National Guard aircraft supported helicopter and ground forces. However it is not clear if Vermont’s F-35s were among them.
Trade impact: Uncertain. Venezuela is not among Vermont’s top 10 export nations. Mexico and Canada are the two leading export nations in North America, accounting for 38% of all exports. As for imports, almost certainly Venezuela’s large export to Vermont is illegal drugs, notably cocaine.
Cocaine consumption up in Vermont: Venezuela is a major exporter of cocaine to the United States. Compass Vermont reports that federal officials say Vermont cocaine consumption is on the rise: ‘More concerning is the explosive growth of Vermont’s cocaine market. In 2023, cocaine was present in 60% of opioid-related deaths. In 2024, that figure rose to 70%. Burlington Police seized a combined 2.7 kilograms of powder and crack cocaine in 2024—significantly outweighing the volume of fentanyl seizures, indicating that cocaine is currently flooding the Vermont market.”
Vermont official reaction to capture of Maduro: Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) said on MSNow this morning: “I’m angry….This was not necessary, it was not legal and we saw this coming. This has been the plan the entire time. It was never about narco-drug trafficking, this was about oil, this was about minerals, this was about regime change.”
As of 11:12 AM today, neither Gov. Phil Scott, Sen. Bernie Sanders, nor Sen. Peter Welch have commented on social media.
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Categories: National/International News
Wonder how long it will be before Judge Boksburg orders his return! Heard earlier this week the government there requested intervention since he lost the election and refused to leave office, only tightened things down.
Ron, was AOC killed or captured in this raid?
He should have requested being indicted in Vermont. The U.S. Senators would be crying “racism” & he could have been let free immediately. They would likely be honored to give him a job at the new “safe” injection site thereafter too.
If Becca says it’s about oil, minerals and regime change it must be true. 🙄
She and Jasmine Crockett are quite the
pair to get your news from.
Seems like Democrats have received their marching orders, all of them are pretty much using same quote, as I am sure the MSM will be today after they get their emails from whoever replaced Mediamatters when Congress cut their funding via NGO’s
Wherever the Green Mt Boys were during this raid or wherever they may be now – like all U.S. troops, they are courageous, competent, and capable in protecting this state and this entire nation, as we are one.
Go Green Mountain Boys, Go!
F-35’s were mentioned by Pres. Trump in the briefing to the nation as ones that were flying into Venezuela. Hugo Chavez and Maduro and Tren De Aragua have been playing organized crime hardball far too long. Espero que sera un Ano mejor ahora.
Any guesses which country is next on the list?
Minnesota!
I’m very disappointed, but not surprised, by the blood lust of some of my fellow Americans. Venezuela plays, at worst, a minor role in the drug trade. For those not paying attention to our 50-year war on drugs, the trade is demand driven. The question that no one seems to be asking is: Vermont has had an opiate problem for at least 25 years and everyone knows opiates are addictive. Why, then, do people continue to volunteer for addiction? Answer that question, correct the cause, and the drug problem will go away. For those who still think the answer is to kill somebody, why not start with the addicts? This would cut off funding for criminal groups as well as reduce demands on law enforcement and social services.
How does one correct predisposed genetic tendencies toward addiction & addictive behaviors?
Perhaps it might be best to continue to pursue no longer allowing illegal, dangerous, & deadly street drugs into the nation via illegally open “borders” and enabling trafficking via our various ports of entry.
Addiction has long been considered a physiological disease with often a genetic component – and free nations don’t kill people for that, though NOR should they enable them in locales such as “safe” injection sites, as democrats do
.
Conversely though, there has been an ongoing war on drugs in light of the millions of lives these substances have taken and/or destroyed worldwide – and killing terrorists who doggedly import these substances into your sovereign nation are choosing to place their own lives at risk for undertaking such actions.
Taking the life of another who is imperiling your life is not bloodlust – it is self-survival & survival of one’s country.
Kathleen,
Why have you chosen to remove the “reply” button from your own comments here?
Vermont drug problem is caused by stupid people using drugs and all the money that is made selling the drugs. This is the new industry in Vermont and we need more drug users to fuel the economy and bring in more federal money. The people in this state are the problem and they allow this crap. Comment from Richard Day with no apology. One thing that does show on this website is the people with criminal minds.
I really cannot believe Becca is our sole representative to Congress. I cringe every time she opens her mouth. And I thought Bernie was embarrassing. I hope she realizes she is taking sides with a dictator and opposite a properly elected leader of their country. And we conservatives get called the “N” word and the “F” word and the “H” word. I guess we aren’t supposed to notice how the Progressives (are not progressive) twist words and definitions to suit their needs. Personally I am very pleased that the USA did a snatch and grab. I think you will see many other countries begin to look at us with more respect. We were becoming a laughing stock, with Russia and China thinking we were a joke, a paper tiger.
Looks like some people in Vermont do not have a problem with governments stealing other peoples property unless your in Vermont and that is okay. Just keep paying your property taxes or you will have your property stolen.
David Davis: I didn’t – you replied to me & so it is not there. However, NO ONE replied to your comment, and yet your reply icon is, as always, not there.
Why, you must be following the easy steps described right online as to how to not be held accountable!
I won’t do the same. That’s: courage of my convictions.
Next.
We both replied to Robert Bloomer’s comment that he posted on January 3, 2026 at 1:37 pm, that’s why neither of our comments have their own reply button.
When someone posts an original comment using the available box at the bottom of a VDC article, as Mr Bloomer did, that comment will feature a reply button. Any subsequent replies to that comment will not have their own reply button. Simple as that, nothing nefarious.
Again, nice try. I stated that you replied to my comment. I NEVER replied to yours nor did anyone else, yet the reply icon is missing. It always is. I can post without one too just anyone can, simply following the concise instructions via the internet – but I don’t as I possess the courage of my convictions.
How about we keep repeated now this over & over & over just as within the last thread? I’m down!
Next!
Oh, don’t forget to make mention of the typos in my comment and also my propensity for CAPITALIZATION for more leftist diversion….
In the interim, MADURO has been CAPTURED & the drug trade is taking a hit. And the leftists wept. (Biblical reference there).
Remember when the leftest don’t have a cogent argument they resort to criticism of punctuation, grammar and spelling
Ron,
Why have you chosen to remove the “reply” button from your comment here?
If leftest were so critical of punctuation, grammar, and spelling I’d expect our public schools’ student English performance ratings to be better!
Exactly, Ron – Apparently as well as focusing on how WordPress operates(!??)
They’ll return. Continued defeats don’t deter. After all, their Communism is now finally infecting communities around the USA like the deadly disease that it is well known to do.
Whoa!
And right on cue, the histrionics have arrived….with a reply icon intact for the first time inasmuch as a year, in a feeble attempt to “confound”(???) Lol.
Meanwhile, as affirmed: Trump has captured Maduro and the trade has suffered another blow. And the leftists wept.
Nested comment don’t have reply buttons.
Original comments do have reply buttons.
Nested comment don’t have reply buttons.
….And yet more diversion & histrionics! (Not to mention your own comments defy your “theory”.
Meanwhile, Maduro is done for & the drug trade suffers.
And the leftists wept…
My own comments do not defy this feature. And your comments conform as well whether you acknowledge and recognize this or not.
It’s simply how WordPress comment sections operate.
….And more histrionics & diversion.
Trump: Victorious.
Maduro: Over.
And the leftists wept.
One mo’ time….