A powerful winter storm blanketed large swaths of Europe with snow and ice, snarling air, rail and road travel from Amsterdam to Paris and triggering deadly accidents, mass flight cancellations and widespread infrastructure disruptions as authorities urged residents to stay home and brace for further deterioration.
A snow-covered street in Amsterdam, amid air, train, and road traffic disruptions caused by snowfall, as hundreds of flights were cancelled and trains came to a standstill, in Netherlands, January 5, 2026. REUTERS/Charlotte Van Campenhout
Heavy snowfall brought aviation to a near standstill in the Dutch and French capitals on Monday, with hundreds of flights scrapped, train networks crippled and highways clogged for hundreds of kilometers. The disruptions rippled outward across the continent, affecting Britain, Italy and the Balkans as a prolonged cold snap tightened its grip.
At Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport — one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs — operations were severely curtailed as snow accumulation and icy conditions forced the cancellation of roughly 700 flights. Airport officials halted incoming air traffic for several hours while crews worked to clear runways and de-ice aircraft, diverting inbound planes to alternative airports across the region, Reuters said.
Inside the terminal, stranded passengers crowded departure halls as delays mounted and information screens flickered with cancellations. One traveler told Dutch outlet AD that uncertainty was compounding the frustration, with little clarity on when normal operations might resume.
The transport chaos extended well beyond the airport. Rail travel around Amsterdam collapsed after frozen track switches and a software malfunction crippled the Netherlands’ rail network during the morning rush. The national rail operator NS said no trains were running in the Amsterdam region for much of the day, while services elsewhere were sharply reduced. The company announced it would shift to a winter timetable on Tuesday, cutting the number of trains to improve reliability, Reuters reported.
International connections were also disrupted. Eurostar said services scheduled to travel into the Netherlands were terminated in Brussels, while all departures from Dutch stations were canceled, stranding international travelers mid-journey.
French authorities faced similar challenges as snowfall intensified around Paris. The country’s civil aviation authority instructed airlines to cut flights by 15% at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly airports through the evening, amounting to roughly 70 canceled departures and arrivals, figures confirmed by airport operator Groupe ADP.
Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot urged travelers to verify flight status before leaving home and encouraged the use of public transportation where possible — advice that proved difficult to follow as snow forced the suspension of some bus services across the capital.
On the ground, the impact was dramatic. Traffic authorities in the Paris region recorded more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of traffic jams as snow and ice turned major arteries into bottlenecks. Officials temporarily barred trucks from roads around Île-de-France to reduce accident risks.
The Associated Press said the storm’s effects turned deadly in parts of France. Authorities in the southwestern Les Landes region confirmed three fatalities linked to traffic accidents, while at least two more people were killed in crashes around Paris. Emergency services responded to dozens of collisions as freezing temperatures made roads treacherous.
By Tuesday morning, Paris awoke under a thick blanket of snow, transforming iconic rooftops and landmarks into wintry scenes. Schools unable to operate safely closed for the day, giving children an unexpected holiday. For air travelers, however, the conditions brought little cheer, as six airports in northern and western France were shuttered entirely due to heavy snowfall, AP said.
Across the border in the Netherlands, snow continued to fall, complicating recovery efforts. Schiphol Airport said approximately 400 additional flights were grounded as crews worked around the clock to clear runways and aircraft. Meteorologists warned that further snowfall was expected later in the week, raising concerns about prolonged disruption.
Commuters who abandoned rail travel and took to the roads encountered long, slow journeys as ice-coated highways snarled traffic nationwide. Authorities urged people to travel only if absolutely necessary, warning that conditions could worsen overnight.
The storm system did not stop at France and the Netherlands. In Italy, persistent rain caused the Tiber River to swell once again, dampening public gatherings in Rome. The Associated Press said Pope Leo XIV’s Epiphany blessing drew smaller crowds than usual as St. Peter’s Square was only partially filled with worshippers sheltering under umbrellas.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri issued an ordinance restricting access to parks and flood-prone areas, citing risks from falling trees and rising waters. Farther north, snow dusted Bologna, while ski resorts in the Dolomites welcomed fresh powder even as freezing temperatures threatened transport links across central and northern Italy.
Britain was gripped by one of its coldest nights of the winter, with temperatures plunging to minus 12.5 degrees Celsius (9.5 Fahrenheit). Snow and ice disrupted rail, road and air travel, closing hundreds of schools across northern England and Scotland. Sporting events were postponed, Glasgow’s subway shut down due to an ice-related power failure, and Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport suspended operations temporarily.
In northern Scotland, forecasters warned of up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) of additional snowfall. Lawmaker Andrew Bowie described the situation as “critical,” calling for military assistance to help clear snow and deliver food and medical supplies to communities already cut off by earlier storms.
The Balkans also endured severe weather, with heavy snow and rain swelling rivers and knocking out power and water supplies in several areas. In Bosnia’s capital, Sarajevo, a woman was killed when a snow-laden tree branch collapsed, authorities said. Neighboring Serbia imposed emergency measures in parts of the west, urging caution as travelers headed toward ski resorts ahead of Orthodox Christmas celebrations.
Black ice forced vehicles to pull over on mountain roads near Sarajevo, while strong winds and stormy seas battered the Adriatic coast. Video footage from southern Montenegro showed waves surging into seaside cottages at Ada Bojana, underscoring the storm’s reach beyond inland transport networks.
Meteorologists warned that the prolonged cold spell could persist, keeping much of Europe in the grip of hazardous conditions. Emergency officials across the continent emphasized the need for vigilance, particularly as climate experts note that increasingly volatile winter weather is straining infrastructure designed for more moderate conditions.
The sweeping disruptions highlighted Europe’s vulnerability to extreme winter storms, with interconnected transport systems amplifying the impact when key hubs such as Amsterdam and Paris falter. As cleanup crews raced to restore services, authorities cautioned that recovery would be uneven — and that patience would be required as winter tightened its hold.
Flash floods triggered by days of intense monsoon rainfall have killed at least 16 people in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province, sweeping away homes, isolating villages and forcing hundreds of residents into emergency shelters, officials said Tuesday, as rescue teams continued searching for those still missing.
The floods struck early Monday after rivers burst their banks on Siau Island, part of the Siau Tagulandang Biaro district, unleashing torrents of water mixed with mud, rocks and debris that surged through residential areas. Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency, said the fast-moving floodwaters overwhelmed communities before many residents had time to escape.
Emergency responders supported by police and military personnel were dispatched to four of the hardest-hit villages on Siau, a small volcanic island located about 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Sulawesi, Indonesia’s fourth-largest island. Access to several areas remained difficult as damaged roads and disrupted communications slowed relief operations, Muhari said.
By Tuesday, as rain eased and floodwaters began to recede, rescuers had recovered 16 bodies from submerged neighborhoods and debris-filled riverbanks, according to Nuriadian Gumeleng, a spokesperson for North Sulawesi’s search and rescue office. Search teams were continuing to look for at least three people who remained unaccounted for, focusing on areas where entire clusters of homes were inundated.
The flooding destroyed at least seven houses and damaged more than 140 others, with water rushing down hillsides and tearing through villages built along river channels. More than 680 residents were displaced and sought refuge in temporary shelters set up in churches, schools and other public buildings, Muhari said.
Sitaro District Chief Chyntia Ingrid Kalangit declared a 14-day emergency response period beginning Monday, a move aimed at accelerating evacuations, aid distribution and infrastructure repairs. She said at least 25 people were injured in the flooding and warned that unstable weather conditions could still pose a threat.
“We are urging residents to remain vigilant, especially those living near rivers and steep slopes,” Kalangit said, adding that additional rainfall could trigger further flooding or landslides. She said the provincial government had deployed heavy equipment to clear debris and sent relief supplies, including food, clean water and medical assistance, to affected communities.
The disaster has once again highlighted Indonesia’s vulnerability to extreme weather, particularly during the monsoon season, which typically runs from November through March. As an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands with mountainous terrain and densely populated riverbanks, Indonesia frequently experiences floods, landslides and other weather-related disasters.
Climate and disaster experts say such events are becoming more destructive as heavier rainfall linked to climate change combines with deforestation, poor drainage and unregulated development. In rural and island communities like those on Siau, homes are often built close to rivers or on unstable slopes, increasing the risk when heavy rains strike.
Residents who survived the floods described scenes of chaos as walls of muddy water surged through their neighborhoods in the predawn hours. Some said they were awakened by the sound of rushing water and collapsing structures, while others were forced to flee rooftops or cling to debris as the floods tore through their villages.
Local authorities said restoring access to isolated areas remained a priority, as several roads were washed out or buried under mud and fallen trees. Power and communications outages further complicated coordination efforts, though officials said conditions were gradually improving.
The tragedy in North Sulawesi comes just weeks after a far deadlier series of floods and landslides struck other parts of Indonesia. In December, catastrophic flooding across 52 cities and regencies on Sumatra, the country’s largest island, killed at least 1,178 people, injured more than 7,000 and left 148 missing as of Tuesday, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.
Those disasters prompted renewed calls for stronger early warning systems and better land-use planning, particularly in flood-prone regions. While Indonesia has made progress in disaster preparedness following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, challenges remain in remote and under-resourced areas.
Analysts say the situation on Siau Island underscores the difficulty of responding quickly to disasters in geographically isolated communities. With limited infrastructure and reliance on ferries or small aircraft, delivering aid and evacuating victims can take precious time.
Humanitarian organizations have urged authorities to ensure that displaced residents receive adequate shelter, sanitation and health care, warning that stagnant water and crowded conditions could raise the risk of disease outbreaks in the days ahead.
For families who lost loved ones and homes, the road to recovery is expected to be long. Local officials said damage assessments were still underway and that longer-term reconstruction plans would depend on support from provincial and national governments.
As Indonesia braces for continued monsoon rains, disaster officials emphasized the importance of public awareness and preparedness. Muhari said authorities were monitoring weather forecasts closely and coordinating with local governments to issue alerts if conditions worsen.
The floods in North Sulawesi serve as a stark reminder of the human toll of extreme weather in Indonesia, where seasonal rains remain a lifeline for agriculture but also pose a recurring threat to lives and livelihoods.
Israeli warplanes struck multiple locations across southern and eastern Lebanon late Monday and early Tuesday, escalating military pressure just days before Lebanese officials are set to hold a pivotal meeting on efforts to disarm Hezbollah and other militant groups operating near the border with Israel.
One of the most significant strikes occurred shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday in the southern coastal city of Sidon, Lebanon’s third-largest city, where an air raid flattened a three-story commercial building in a busy industrial district. The attack came ahead of a scheduled government briefing by Lebanon’s army commander on the progress of extending state authority into long-contested areas and removing armed groups from the country’s south.
An Associated Press photographer at the scene in Sidon said the destroyed structure was located in a commercial zone filled with workshops and auto repair shops and appeared to be uninhabited at the time of the strike. Ambulances transported at least one injured person from the area, while rescue teams searched through debris for possible victims. No fatalities had been reported by early Tuesday.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strikes, warning that the timing and scale of the attacks undermined international efforts to stabilize the country and threatened Beirut’s own attempts to reassert control over regions historically dominated by Hezbollah.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Aoun said the airstrikes ran counter to diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing tensions and jeopardized Lebanon’s “serious efforts to extend the authority of the state and implement commitments related to security and stability.”
Israel’s military said the strikes targeted weapons storage facilities and infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah and Hamas, both designated as militant groups by Israel and the United States. In a statement released Tuesday, the military acknowledged that the sites were embedded within civilian areas but blamed the groups for operating among noncombatants.
The attacks were part of near-daily Israeli military action that has continued despite a ceasefire brokered more than a year ago, following a devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Under that agreement, Lebanon pledged to dismantle armed groups south of the Litani River — a commitment Israeli officials say has not been fully implemented.
The latest airstrikes came nearly two hours after Israel’s military Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, issued public warnings on the social media platform X, advising residents to evacuate areas in two villages in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and two villages in the country’s south ahead of imminent strikes.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that one of the homes hit in the Bekaa Valley village of Manara belonged to Sharhabil al-Sayed, identified as a Hamas military commander who was killed in an Israeli drone strike in May 2024. Residents evacuated the targeted areas after Israel’s warnings, and there were no immediate reports of casualties in those strikes.
Earlier Monday, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle in the southern village of Braikeh wounded two people. The Israeli military said the strike targeted two Hezbollah members.
The airstrikes occurred as Lebanon’s government prepares for a sensitive and politically fraught discussion on Hezbollah’s disarmament. The Cabinet is scheduled to meet Thursday, with army commander Gen. Rudolph Haikal expected to brief ministers on ongoing security operations and future plans.
Lebanon’s army last year began disarming Palestinian factions operating in refugee camps and other areas outside full state control. Government officials have repeatedly said that by the end of 2025, all territory south of the Litani River — an area long regarded as Hezbollah’s stronghold — would be free of the group’s armed presence.
Monday’s strikes, however, targeted villages north of the Litani River and well beyond the immediate border area with Israel, raising concerns among Lebanese officials and analysts that Israel’s military campaign may be expanding geographically even as political negotiations intensify.
The current push to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities follows a 14-month war between Israel and the Iran-backed group that ended in November 2024 with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. That conflict severely weakened Hezbollah, killing much of its senior political and military leadership and destroying large portions of its infrastructure.
The war began on Oct. 8, 2023, one day after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel. In what it described as solidarity with Hamas, Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel, prompting Israeli retaliation. Israel escalated its campaign in September 2024 with widespread airstrikes across Lebanon, followed by a ground invasion aimed at pushing Hezbollah away from the border.
Although the ceasefire halted large-scale fighting, Israel has continued to carry out targeted strikes, saying they are necessary to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military capabilities. According to the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 127 civilians have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect.
Analysts say the timing of the latest attacks reflects Israel’s skepticism toward Lebanon’s ability — or willingness — to fully disarm Hezbollah. While Beirut has publicly committed to restoring state authority, Hezbollah remains a powerful political and military force with deep roots in Lebanese society and significant backing from Iran.
For Lebanon, the challenge is balancing internal stability with external pressure. Any aggressive move against Hezbollah risks political backlash and potential unrest, while failure to act invites continued Israeli military action. President Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government face mounting pressure from Western and regional partners to demonstrate concrete progress ahead of renewed diplomatic engagement.
The strikes have also heightened fears among civilians already struggling with Lebanon’s prolonged economic crisis. Sidon residents surveyed by the AP said the attack revived memories of the broader war and raised concerns that fragile calm could collapse into renewed large-scale conflict.
As Lebanon’s leaders prepare to meet later this week, the latest Israeli airstrikes underscore the narrow window for diplomacy. Whether the disarmament talks lead to tangible changes on the ground — or further escalation — could shape the trajectory of Israeli-Lebanese relations and regional stability in the months ahead.
British authorities have opened an investigation into the death of a Kenyan nurse found inside her home in southern England, a case that has stirred grief across the Kenyan diaspora and renewed concerns about the welfare of migrant healthcare workers living abroad.
Peninah Muiruri, a Kenyan national working as a nurse in the United Kingdom, was discovered dead at her residence in Horsham, Sussex, after relatives raised alarm when she suddenly stopped communicating, family members and African media outlets said. Police have scheduled a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death as inquiries continue.
Informer East Africa said Muiruri’s family alerted authorities after repeated attempts to reach her failed, an unusual break from her routine. Relatives told the outlet that she was known for maintaining close and regular contact with family members in Kenya, despite being the only one living and working overseas. When the silence persisted, family members requested a welfare check, prompting police officers to visit her home, where her body was found.
UK authorities have not publicly released details surrounding the circumstances of her death, saying further information would depend on the outcome of forensic examinations. A post-mortem has been scheduled to establish what led to her passing.
As investigations proceed, Muiruri’s family has launched a repatriation fund to raise money to transport her body back to Kenya for burial, Informer East Africa reported. The family appealed to well-wishers for financial assistance, noting the high costs associated with international repatriation and funeral arrangements.
The news has sent shockwaves through Kenyan communities both in the UK and at home. Tuko, an online Kenyan news platform, reported that Muiruri’s death has left her family devastated and searching for answers. Known affectionately as “Penny,” she worked as a nurse in Sussex and was described by relatives as deeply devoted to her family, despite the physical distance created by her career abroad.
Tuko said Muiruri’s consistent communication with her loved ones ultimately played a key role in drawing attention to her sudden disappearance from daily contact. Family members initially hoped there was an innocent explanation for her silence, but their worst fears were realized after police confirmed her death.
Her sister, Helen Wagio, shared an emotional tribute on Facebook, questioning the circumstances surrounding Muiruri’s death while expressing anguish and faith amid uncertainty.
“What really happened to you, my sister Penny?” Wagio wrote in a post cited by Tuko. “The United Kingdom is far, but our God will reveal everything. You were selfless, caring, kind, loving, and responsible. You sacrificed everything for us, Peninah.”
Wagio added that the family struggled to accept the reality of the loss, clinging to hope that the news might somehow be untrue. She also appealed for compassion, saying speculation circulating online had compounded the family’s pain.
“We have not even processed the news of her death, and then conclusions are everywhere,” she said, according to Tuko. “God, we wait on You. Thank you to everyone who is helping and encouraging us.”
Tributes have continued to pour in from Kenyans around the world, many of whom remembered Muiruri as warm, joyful and deeply generous. Social media platforms have been flooded with condolence messages from friends, colleagues and strangers alike, reflecting the close-knit nature of diaspora communities and the shared sense of loss when one of their own dies far from home.
Beyond the personal tragedy, Muiruri’s death has reignited broader conversations about the challenges faced by African healthcare workers in the UK. Britain relies heavily on overseas nurses and caregivers, many from Kenya, Nigeria and other African nations, to support its overstretched health system. While these workers often find professional opportunities abroad, they also face isolation, demanding work environments and limited local family support.
The case has also drawn comparisons to other recent deaths involving Kenyan caregivers in the UK. Tuko previously reported on the death of Irene Mbugua, a woman from Mataara in Gatundu, Kiambu County, who was working as a caregiver in Britain. Mbugua was allegedly killed by a patient she was caring for, her body discovered after she failed to submit a required daily work report.
Though authorities have stressed that there is no indication the cases are linked, the incidents have fueled concern among Kenyan migrant workers and advocacy groups, who say more safeguards and support systems are needed for those working in private homes or isolated settings.
Analysts note that migrant nurses often shoulder heavy workloads while navigating cultural adjustment, immigration pressures and separation from family. When communication suddenly breaks down, as in Muiruri’s case, families thousands of miles away are left with limited options beyond appealing to authorities for welfare checks.
The repatriation fund established by Muiruri’s family has also highlighted the financial strain many migrant families face when tragedy strikes abroad. Transporting a body internationally can cost thousands of dollars, expenses rarely covered by employers or insurance policies.
As British investigators work to establish the cause of Muiruri’s death, Kenyan community leaders in the UK have urged patience and restraint, warning against speculation until official findings are released. They have also called for stronger community networks to ensure that individuals living alone have regular check-ins and support.
For now, Muiruri’s family says their focus remains on honoring her life and bringing her home. Her death, they say, is not only a personal loss but a reminder of the vulnerability faced by many who leave their countries in search of opportunity.
The Trump administration has expanded a controversial visa policy by adding seven more countries — including five in Africa — to a list of nations whose citizens must post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for entry into the United States.
With the latest additions, the list now includes 13 countries, all but two of them in Africa, a move that further raises the financial barrier for many travelers seeking U.S. visas.
The State Department last week added Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan to the program. The designations took effect Jan. 1, as outlined in a notice published on the department’s travel.state.gov website.
The bond requirement is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to tighten entry rules for foreign visitors. Other measures already in place include mandatory in-person visa interviews for applicants from all countries requiring visas, as well as extensive disclosures of social media activity and detailed personal travel and residency histories for both applicants and their families.
U.S. officials argue the bond system — which ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 — serves as a deterrent against visa overstays by applicants from countries with historically high overstay rates.
Posting the bond does not ensure a visa will be approved. However, the funds are refunded if the visa is denied or once a visa holder demonstrates compliance with the terms of admission, including departing the country on time.
The newly added countries join Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi and Zambia, which were placed under the bond requirement in August and October of last year.
Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty Monday to sweeping U.S. drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges, declaring himself “innocent” and a “decent man” as his first appearance in an American courtroom opened a case with far-reaching legal and geopolitical consequences.
“I’m innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the president of my country,” Maduro told U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein during a brief but closely watched arraignment in Manhattan federal court.
The proceeding marked the first time Maduro has faced a U.S. judge on charges that the Trump administration cited to justify his capture in Caracas and transfer to New York. Prosecutors accuse Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, and others accused alongside them of conspiring with international drug cartels to ship vast quantities of cocaine into the United States. Convictions could carry decades in prison or life sentences.
Maduro, wearing a blue jail-issued shirt over an orange undershirt and khaki detention pants, entered the courtroom shortly before noon accompanied by federal officers. Flores, seated nearby, appeared with bandages on her temple and eyelid. Her attorney, Mark E. Donnelly, told the court she suffered “significant injuries” during the capture operation and may have fractured ribs or severe bruising. Judge Hellerstein directed prosecutors to ensure she receives appropriate medical care.
Throughout the hearing, Maduro maintained a posture of defiance wrapped in formality. He wrote steadily on a yellow legal pad placed beside a copy of the indictment at the defense table and asked the court to allow him to keep his notes. Hellerstein instructed prosecutors to coordinate with the U.S. Marshals Service to respect that request.
As journalists filled the jury box and spectators packed the gallery, Maduro repeatedly greeted reporters with “Happy New Year,” glancing toward them before turning back to the court. Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration were among those observing, including Frank Tarentino, the special agent in charge of the DEA’s New York Division.
Minutes into the hearing, Hellerstein asked Maduro to identify himself for the record. Maduro responded by calling himself the president of Venezuela and said he had been “kidnapped” and “captured” from his home in Caracas.
“I am a prisoner of war,” he added in Spanish.
The judge reminded Maduro of his rights, including the right to counsel at no cost if he could not afford one and the possibility of pretrial release unless prosecutors show grounds for detention. Maduro replied that he had not been aware of those rights until the judge explained them.
“I did not know of these rights; your honor has informed me of them now,” he said.
Maduro entered a formal plea of not guilty to all charges. His next court appearance was scheduled for March 17, setting the stage for what is expected to be a lengthy legal battle over jurisdiction, immunity and the legality of his arrest.
Court filings show Maduro is represented by Barry J. Pollack, a Washington-based defense attorney with more than three decades of experience handling high-profile cases. Pollack recently negotiated a plea agreement that secured the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after a guilty plea to an Espionage Act charge. Pollack has also won acquittals and exonerations in politically sensitive cases, underscoring the aggressive defense Maduro is expected to mount.
Judge Hellerstein, 92, who will preside over the case, was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by then-President Bill Clinton in 1998 and took senior status in 2011. Over his career, he has overseen major cases including litigation involving Harvey Weinstein and numerous matters stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks, giving him deep experience in complex and high-visibility proceedings.
Tensions flared briefly as the hearing ended. As Maduro rose to leave, a man in the courtroom gallery stood and addressed him forcefully in Spanish, calling him an illegitimate leader. The man, later identified as 33-year-old Pedro Rojas, said he had been imprisoned by Venezuela’s government. As deputy U.S. marshals escorted Maduro out, the former leader turned toward him and responded in Spanish: “I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war.”
The exchange encapsulated the stark divisions surrounding Maduro’s fall and prosecution. To supporters and some allies abroad, he remains the elected leader of Venezuela and a victim of U.S. overreach. To critics and many Venezuelans in exile, his appearance in court represents long-delayed accountability for alleged abuses of power.
The indictment against Maduro traces alleged criminal conduct back to his early years in public office and accuses him of partnering with violent transnational groups to turn Venezuela into a hub for narcotics trafficking. U.S. officials argue that because Washington does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president, claims of sovereign immunity do not apply. His lawyers are expected to challenge that position, arguing that the seizure of a foreign leader without extradition violates international law.
Beyond the courtroom, the case has rattled diplomats and governments worldwide. Legal scholars say the prosecution could redefine how nations treat former heads of state accused of transnational crimes, while also testing limits on U.S. power abroad. Human rights advocates and international law experts have raised questions about whether Maduro’s capture undermines long-standing norms, even as victims of drug violence view the case as a necessary step toward justice.
For now, the proceedings are moving forward within the tightly controlled rhythms of the federal court system. As Maduro was led from the courtroom alongside Flores, the judge’s calendar and the March hearing date stood in contrast to the extraordinary circumstances that brought the former leader there.
What unfolds next will reverberate far beyond Lower Manhattan, shaping debates over sovereignty, accountability and the reach of American courts in an increasingly polarized world.
Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was brought under heavy guard to a federal courthouse in Manhattan on Monday, marking his first appearance before an American judge on sweeping narco-terrorism charges that the Trump administration says justified his dramatic capture and transfer to the United States.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were scheduled to stand before U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein at midday for an initial arraignment, a procedural step expected to open a prolonged and politically explosive legal battle over whether a former foreign head of state can be tried in a U.S. courtroom. Prosecutors say Maduro faces decades in prison, and potentially life sentences, if convicted on each count.
U.S. authorities accuse Maduro, along with members of his family and close allies, of conspiring with international drug trafficking organizations to funnel thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States. Federal prosecutors allege the network worked with Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombia’s FARC guerrillas and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, turning state institutions into tools of organized crime. Maduro, 63, has consistently denied the accusations, dismissing them as a pretext for U.S. interference aimed at Venezuela’s oil wealth.
Maduro’s legal team is expected to challenge the case at its foundation. His lawyers argue that he retains immunity from prosecution as a sovereign leader, even after his removal from power. The United States, however, does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president, having rejected his 2018 reelection as fraudulent.
Maduro has hired Barry J. Pollack, a Washington-based attorney with a record of handling high-profile and politically sensitive cases. Pollack, a partner at Harris, St. Laurent & Wechsler, negotiated Julian Assange’s 2024 plea agreement that secured the WikiLeaks founder’s release after he pleaded guilty to an Espionage Act charge. Pollack also won an acquittal for former Enron accountant Michael Krautz in 2006 and helped overturn the conviction of Martin Tankleff, who spent 17 years in prison for the murders of his parents before being exonerated.
Outside the courthouse, the scene underscored the global stakes of the case. The Associated Press observed two opposing groups of demonstrators separated by New York Police Department community affairs officers using metal barricades. Roughly 50 protesters opposed to U.S. intervention waved signs reading “No War for Venezuelan Oil,” “No Blood for Oil” and “No to Criminal Trump Invasion,” while about a dozen pro-intervention demonstrators gathered across the street. At one point, a brief scuffle erupted when a Venezuelan flag was pulled away from protesters. More than 100 journalists from around the world lined the perimeter, filming and interviewing demonstrators hours before the hearing.
Reuters reported that Maduro and Flores were transported Monday morning from a Brooklyn detention facility to Manhattan by helicopter, escorted by armed officers in tactical gear. Images of the former leader with his hands restrained circulated rapidly, fueling outrage among allies abroad and jubilation among some of his critics.
The arrest itself has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles. Reuters said U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres raised concerns about instability in Venezuela and questions over the legality of the U.S. operation, which involved Special Forces flying into Caracas, breaching Maduro’s security cordon and pulling him from the threshold of a fortified safe room. The United Nations Security Council was expected to debate the seizure, with Russia, China and several left-leaning governments condemning the raid as a violation of international law.
Maduro’s arraignment builds on a case first filed in New York in 2020, when U.S. prosecutors charged him and other Venezuelan officials as part of a long-running narcotics investigation. A superseding indictment unsealed Saturday added new allegations and defendants, including Flores, and detailed what prosecutors describe as decades of drug trafficking stretching back to Maduro’s time in Venezuela’s National Assembly in 2000, through his tenure as foreign minister, and into his presidency after succeeding Hugo Chávez in 2013.
While the courtroom drama unfolded in New York, Venezuela’s political leadership scrambled to respond. An emergency decree published in Caracas ordered police to seek out and detain anyone suspected of supporting the U.S. operation. At the same time, senior officials signaled a potential shift in tone. After initially denouncing Maduro’s capture as a colonial “kidnapping,” acting President Delcy Rodríguez said Venezuela was open to dialogue with Washington.
“We invite the U.S. government to work together on an agenda of cooperation,” Rodríguez said, adding that “President Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war.”
Trump, however, made clear that oil looms large in his administration’s calculus. Reuters reported that U.S. oil company shares rose Monday on speculation that American firms could regain access to Venezuela’s vast reserves, the largest in the world at roughly 303 billion barrels. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said American companies would return to rebuild Venezuela’s energy sector. “We’re taking back what they stole,” he said. “We’re in charge.”
Venezuela’s oil industry, once a pillar of the global energy market, has withered due to mismanagement, sanctions and underinvestment, producing about 1.1 million barrels per day last year — a fraction of its 1970s peak. Trump has warned of further military action if Venezuela does not cooperate on oil and drug enforcement, while also issuing sharp remarks toward Colombia, Mexico and Cuba.
Legal scholars say the case could reshape norms governing international law and sovereignty. Some experts argue the capture of a foreign leader without extradition marks a sharp break from precedent and risks eroding a rules-based global order. Others contend that narco-terrorism charges and the U.S. refusal to recognize Maduro’s presidency weaken claims of immunity.
Inside Venezuela, reactions remain cautious. While many opponents of Maduro privately welcomed his downfall, celebrations have been muted. His allies still control key institutions, and there has been no visible split within the military, even as speculation grows that insiders may have aided the U.S. operation.
As Maduro’s case moves forward, it promises to test not only the reach of American courts but also the balance between justice, power and international restraint in an increasingly fractured world.
Cuba announced Sunday that 32 of its citizens serving in armed forces and intelligence agencies were killed during the U.S. military operation that extracted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from his Caracas compound Saturday, marking the heaviest Cuban military casualties in a single engagement in decades and dramatically escalating diplomatic tensions between Havana and Washington.
The Cuban government declared two days of national mourning January 5 and 6 honoring the dead, with funeral arrangements to be announced as remains are repatriated. The substantial casualty count suggested that Cuban security personnel provided more extensive protection for Maduro than previously understood publicly, with dozens of Cuban operatives apparently positioned throughout the Venezuelan president’s residential compound or nearby military facilities when U.S. Delta Force operators launched their predawn assault.
The Cuban government statement provided limited operational details but confirmed all deceased were members of Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence agencies deployed to Venezuela. “True to their responsibilities concerning security and defense, our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism and fell, after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombings on the facilities,” the official declaration stated, according to Reuters.
Cuba has provided security assistance to Maduro since he assumed power in 2013 following Hugo Chávez’s death, though the extent of Cuban military and intelligence presence in Venezuela has remained largely opaque to outside observers. The revelation that at least 32 Cuban personnel died during the raid provided unprecedented confirmation of Cuba’s substantial security footprint protecting the Venezuelan president, raising questions about how many additional Cubans may serve in Venezuela and whether their presence constituted military deployment that exceeded traditional security cooperation between allied nations.
The statement’s reference to deaths occurring both “in direct combat against the attackers” and “as a result of bombings on the facilities” suggested that casualties resulted from multiple engagements across Caracas rather than exclusively at Maduro’s residential compound. U.S. forces conducted strikes against Venezuelan air defense installations and military facilities to suppress threats to extraction helicopters, potentially killing Cuban advisors stationed at those locations in addition to personnel directly defending the president.
It remained unclear Sunday evening how many Cubans were guarding Maduro when they died and how many may have perished at other military facilities struck during the operation. The Cuban government has not disclosed the total number of military and intelligence personnel it maintains in Venezuela, though estimates by regional analysts have ranged from several hundred to several thousand Cubans providing security, intelligence, and military advisory services to the Maduro government.
Maduro, 63, and his wife Cilia Flores were seized by U.S. forces in the Venezuelan capital Saturday and flown to the United States aboard military aircraft. Maduro is being held at a New York detention center awaiting Monday court appearance on federal narco-terrorism charges that prosecutors filed in the Southern District of New York in 2020. The Venezuelan leader has consistently denied criminal involvement, characterizing the charges as politically motivated pretexts for regime change.
According to CNBC, Cuba’s presidential office announced the casualties Monday via Facebook, describing the U.S. operation as a “criminal act of aggression and state terrorism.” The strongly worded condemnation reflected Havana’s fury over American military action that killed dozens of Cuban personnel while deposing Cuba’s most important regional ally, whose petroleum shipments and financial support have sustained Cuba’s struggling economy through recent years of severe economic crisis.
The Cubans killed were performing missions on behalf of the Cuban Armed Forces and interior ministry, the presidential office stated. The interior ministry reference suggested that at least some casualties were intelligence operatives from Cuba’s powerful security apparatus rather than conventional military personnel, indicating the sophisticated nature of Cuban support for Maduro’s protection that extended beyond physical security to include counterintelligence and surveillance activities.
“Faithful to their responsibilities with security and defense, our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroically and fell, after ferocious resistance, into direct combat against the attackers or as a result of the bombings of the facilities,” the statement declared according to Facebook’s translation, employing martial language emphasizing Cuban personnel’s valor while portraying them as victims of American aggression rather than foreign fighters killed while protecting another nation’s authoritarian leader.
The Cuban government promised to pay tribute to the dead, though specific commemoration plans beyond the two-day mourning period were not immediately announced. The deaths represent Cuba’s most significant military losses since the 1980s, when Cuban forces fighting in Angola and Ethiopia sustained casualties during Cold War-era proxy conflicts. The scope of losses will likely trigger domestic political repercussions in Cuba, where families of the dead will demand explanations about why their relatives died in Venezuela rather than defending Cuban territory.
The casualties underscore the risks Cuba has accepted by providing extensive military support to Maduro’s government, transforming what Havana characterizes as fraternal socialist solidarity into tangible military commitments that placed Cuban personnel in harm’s way. The relationship between Cuba and Venezuela deepened dramatically during Chávez’s presidency, with Cuba sending thousands of doctors, teachers, and security advisors to Venezuela in exchange for discounted petroleum that became Cuba’s economic lifeline after Soviet subsidies ended.
The U.S. strikes came after weeks of military buildup in the Caribbean region and explicit threats by President Donald Trump against Maduro. Trump had repeatedly indicated that military action against Venezuela remained under consideration if diplomatic and economic pressure failed to dislodge Maduro from power, though the timing and scope of Saturday’s operation apparently caught Venezuelan and Cuban forces by surprise despite the visible American military presence offshore.
Following the raid’s successful completion, Trump announced at his Mar-a-Lago resort that the United States would temporarily “run” Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition” to new leadership. The declaration of direct American governance over a sovereign nation triggered international condemnation and raised questions about the occupation’s legal basis, duration, and whether U.S. military forces would deploy throughout Venezuelan territory to enforce Washington’s authority.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio elaborated on U.S. intentions during Sunday morning television appearances, stating that Washington would leverage its oil blockade on Venezuela and regional military buildup to achieve policy objectives. “We want Venezuela to move in a certain direction,” Rubio told NBC’s “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker, suggesting the administration would maintain pressure until Venezuela’s political and economic systems aligned with American preferences.
Appearing separately on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” Rubio characterized U.S. actions as establishing a “quarantine” on Venezuelan oil exports that would prevent economic recovery until conditions satisfying both American national interests and Venezuelan people’s interests were met. “That means their economy will not be able to move forward until the conditions that are in the national interest of the United States and the interests of the Venezuelan people are met, and that’s what we intend to do,” Rubio stated, framing the oil blockade as leverage compelling Venezuelan cooperation with U.S. governance plans.
The U.S. has seized multiple oil tankers associated with Venezuela in recent months while deploying aircraft carriers, warships, and advanced fighter aircraft to the Caribbean in the most substantial American military presence in the region since the Cold War. The maritime blockade has effectively prevented Venezuela from exporting petroleum to most international markets, devastating government revenues and accelerating the economic collapse that has driven millions of Venezuelans to emigrate.
For Cuba, the deaths of 32 military and intelligence personnel represent not just human tragedy but strategic disaster. The loss of Maduro as Venezuela’s president threatens Cuba’s access to petroleum and financial support that have sustained the island’s economy despite decades of American sanctions. Without Venezuelan subsidies, Cuba faces severe fuel shortages, electrical grid failures, and economic contraction that could trigger domestic instability threatening the Communist Party’s grip on power.
The Cuban casualties also exposed vulnerabilities in Havana’s military capabilities. Despite reportedly fierce resistance, Cuban forces proved unable to prevent U.S. operators from capturing Maduro and extracting him from Venezuelan territory. The operational failure will likely prompt Cuban military leaders to reassess their force projection capabilities and question whether deploying personnel to protect foreign leaders serves Cuban national interests when those missions place personnel at risk of combat with vastly superior American military power.
The announcement of Cuban casualties complicates the already fraught relationship between Havana and Washington. The Trump administration has maintained hardline policies toward Cuba including tightened sanctions and restrictions on travel and remittances, reversing Obama-era normalization efforts. The deaths of dozens of Cubans in a U.S. military operation will intensify Cuban government rhetoric portraying America as an imperialist aggressor while potentially generating domestic pressure on the Biden administration’s potential successors to respond to what Havana characterizes as an act of war.
International law experts will debate whether Cuban forces in Venezuela constituted legitimate military targets. If Cuban personnel were formally integrated into Venezuelan security services under bilateral defense agreements, their targeting during a raid on Venezuelan soil presents different legal questions than if they served as foreign combatants without formal status under Venezuelan military command. The circumstances of their deployment and the legal authorities governing their presence will influence whether their deaths constitute lawful combat casualties or violations of international humanitarian law.
The two-day mourning period declared by Cuba will feature state-organized commemorations portraying the dead as heroes who sacrificed their lives defending socialist principles against American imperialism. The Cuban government will likely use the funerals to rally domestic support and reinforce narratives about American aggression that have justified Cuba’s authoritarian political system for six decades. However, families of the deceased may privately question why their relatives died in Venezuela rather than Cuba, potentially creating social tensions the government will need to manage carefully.
For Venezuela, the revelation of extensive Cuban security presence raises questions about Maduro’s reliance on foreign forces rather than Venezuelan military and intelligence services to ensure his personal security. While Venezuelan armed forces nominally protected the president, the substantial Cuban casualties suggest that Maduro trusted Cuban personnel more than his own security services, perhaps recognizing that Venezuelan military officers might be susceptible to American inducements to facilitate his capture or removal.
The casualties represent a grim milestone in the long history of Cuban military internationalism, which previously saw Cuban forces fight in Angola, Ethiopia, and other Cold War battlefields in support of socialist movements. However, those earlier deployments involved thousands of Cuban troops engaged in conventional warfare, whereas the Venezuela mission apparently involved smaller numbers of security and intelligence personnel providing protection and advisory services. The shift from large-scale military expeditions to focused security missions reflected Cuba’s diminished resources and changing strategic priorities in the post-Soviet era.
The deaths will complicate any future negotiations between the United States and Cuba regarding Venezuela’s governance. Havana cannot easily forgive or forget that American forces killed dozens of Cuban military and intelligence personnel, creating blood debt that will influence Cuban positions in regional diplomacy for years. The Trump administration’s declared intention to govern Venezuela temporarily suggests that Washington will need to navigate relationships with multiple Latin American nations including Cuba, whose cooperation or opposition could significantly affect U.S. success in stabilizing Venezuela and establishing successor governance.
For Latin America broadly, the casualties underscore the risks of military cooperation with Venezuela that could entangle regional militaries in conflicts with the United States. Several Latin American nations maintain security relationships with Venezuela, though none approach the depth of Cuban involvement. The deaths of 32 Cubans serving in Venezuela will prompt military planners throughout the region to reassess whether such commitments serve national interests or create unnecessary risks of confrontation with American military power.
The incident may also influence Cuban decisions about future military cooperation agreements. If deploying personnel to protect allied leaders places those forces at risk of catastrophic losses when American interests conflict with those regimes, Cuba may reconsider whether such commitments merit the strategic and human costs. However, Havana’s limited options for regional allies and desperate need for Venezuelan support before Maduro’s capture will make such recalculations difficult, potentially locking Cuba into supporting whatever government emerges in Venezuela regardless of risks.
The full story of how 32 Cubans died during Operation Absolute Resolve will likely remain classified for years, with neither U.S. nor Cuban governments eager to disclose details that might reveal capabilities, tactics, or intelligence sources. However, the casualty count itself provides stark evidence that the raid involved substantial combat rather than token resistance, with Cuban forces apparently fighting determined defensive actions that inflicted time delays and potential complications on U.S. operations even if they ultimately proved unable to prevent Maduro’s capture.
Manchester United have dismissed manager Ruben Amorim after a turbulent 14-month spell in charge, a decision announced Monday, one day after the Portuguese coach defiantly insisted he would not resign despite mounting criticism following a 1-1 Premier League draw with Leeds United.
“With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change,” the club said in a statement. “This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.”
Amorim, 40, was appointed in November 2024 to succeed Erik ten Hag but struggled to reverse the club’s long-running decline. In his first season, United finished 15th — their lowest league placing since relegation in 1974 — and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, according to Reuters. This season, United sit sixth after 20 matches, 17 points adrift of leaders Arsenal, having won just three of their last 11 games.
Sunday’s draw at Leeds proved pivotal. Amorim, usually measured in public, delivered a fiery defense of his authority during the post-match news conference, bristling at questions over his future and criticism from former United defender and television pundit Gary Neville.
“If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms of everything, we need to change the club,” Amorim said, referring to repeated scrutiny of his tactical loyalty to a three- or five-man defensive system. “I came here to be the manager, not to be the coach.”
He added that he had been clear about his remit across the club’s football operations and insisted he would not walk away from the role. “I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me,” Amorim said.
That replacement, at least temporarily, will be Darren Fletcher. United said the former midfielder, who has been working within the club’s coaching structure, will take charge of Wednesday’s match against Burnley, according to The Associated Press. Fletcher is expected to serve in an interim capacity while the club searches for a long-term successor.
Amorim’s dismissal makes him the latest in a series of managers unable to restore United to former dominance since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Ten Hag have all been appointed and moved on, with limited success. It has now been 13 years since United last won the Premier League title.
According to AP, Amorim presided over several unwanted records at the 20-time English champion, including the club’s lowest finish of the Premier League era last season. At the end of that campaign, he publicly apologized to supporters, describing it as “disastrous” after United recorded their highest number of league defeats and lowest points total. Punchng also reported on that apology, which underscored the depth of the club’s struggles.
The swift reversal from Amorim’s defiant stance to his dismissal highlights the growing pressure on managers at elite clubs amid fan unrest, relentless media scrutiny and heightened expectations driven by heavy spending and global attention. Analysts say United’s decision reflects both short-term concern over league position and a broader admission that structural issues — recruitment, football governance and identity — remain unresolved.
As United once again begin the search for a manager capable of reviving the standards set under Ferguson, questions persist over whether another high-profile appointment alone can address the systemic problems that have plagued one of world football’s most storied clubs.
Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has detained 22 Indian crew members of a merchant vessel after uncovering 31.5 kilograms of cocaine at Apapa Port in Lagos, as authorities also announced the interception of other illicit drugs concealed in coffee sachets and book parcels bound for Europe and southern Africa.
The NDLEA said the sailors, all crew members of the vessel MV Aruna Hulya, were taken into custody on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, after operatives discovered the cocaine hidden in hatch three of the ship during an inspection at the GDNL terminal. The vessel, the agency said, originated from the Marshall Islands.
In a statement issued Sunday, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi said those detained include the ship’s master, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, and 21 other crew members. He identified the suspects as Bharati Manoj Kumar, Bhalerao Nilesh Mukund, Nadar Anthony Macson David, Kolusu Srinivasa Rao, Sagar Gaurav, Francis Anto Beemas Nester, Jagdeep Singh, Jai Parkash and Prabhukhan Singh, alongside Nevage Sandesh Suresh, Pandey Prashant, Nittu Anand, Akash Babu, Dasari Raju, Reddy Nandika Sanjeeba, Rana Nivesh, Melethil Insaf Rahman, Barla Chantanya Krishna, Ghosh Arijit, Mondal Raihan and Gangwar Shiv Om.
Babafemi said the port seizure was part of a wider crackdown that also exposed sophisticated concealment methods used by drug traffickers operating through courier networks. NDLEA operatives, he said, intercepted consignments of ketamine, ecstasy and tramadol pills hidden inside sachets of coffee mix and book parcels at a courier company in Lagos on Dec. 24 and Dec. 29, 2025. The packages were destined for Zambia and the United Kingdom.
Authorities say the discoveries underscore Nigeria’s growing role as both a transit hub and target market for international drug trafficking syndicates, particularly those exploiting maritime routes and commercial shipping to move narcotics across continents.
Beyond Lagos, the agency reported multiple arrests across the country in what it described as intelligence-led operations. In Oyo State, NDLEA officers on Dec. 29 arrested a wanted drug kingpin, Fatima Ilori, popularly known as “Mama Kerosine,” whom the agency described as a major distributor in Ibadan. Babafemi said the 65-year-old was apprehended following the seizure of 238.4 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, linked to her activities. Another suspect, Olusanya Abosede, 35, was also arrested during the operation in the Onireke–Elekuro area of the city.
The agency said its operatives also disrupted drug supply lines allegedly linked to insurgent networks in the northeast. In Borno State, Babafemi said, a 26-year-old suspect, Isa Mohammed, was arrested along the Maiduguri–Gamboru Ngala Road on Jan. 2 with 9,150 ampoules of tramadol injection. Another suspect, Musa Samaila, 30, was detained the same day at Biu Market with 34,000 tramadol capsules.
Additional seizures were reported nationwide, including the recovery of nearly 400 kilograms of skunk and a van in the Mobolaji Johnson area of Lagos on New Year’s Day, and the arrest of Bilya Ibrahim, 39, in Hadejia, Jigawa State, on Dec. 30 while allegedly transporting 140.8 kilograms of cannabis from Taraba State to Yobe State. In Kwara State, NDLEA officers recovered 238.5 kilograms of skunk from a residence in Ilorin and seized 32,000 pills of tramadol and diazepam from a suspect, Abubakar Rabiu, 32, at Bode Saadu in Moro Local Government Area on Dec. 31.
The latest arrests come amid ongoing legal proceedings involving foreign nationals accused of drug smuggling through Nigerian ports. A Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Friday Ogazi, on Monday extended the detention of another vessel, MV San Antonio, and its 21 crew members for an additional 14 days over allegations of smuggling 25.5 kilograms of cocaine into the country. The Nigeria Customs Service said that vessel was intercepted at Apapa Port on Dec. 6, 2025, after arriving from Brazil with the drugs allegedly concealed in a bulk shipment of sugar.
Security analysts say the series of seizures reflects mounting pressure on Nigerian authorities to clamp down on maritime trafficking routes, even as traffickers adopt increasingly elaborate methods to evade detection. NDLEA officials say investigations into the Apapa Port seizure and related cases remain ongoing.
