News articles published in early January 2026, including one by Hindustan Times, reported on an alleged US raid that purportedly captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026. These reports, often citing statements attributed to former US President Donald Trump and an unnamed 'White House press secretary' sharing an eyewitness account on social media, further claimed the use of a 'powerful mystery weapon' that left Venezuelan soldiers bleeding and vomiting blood. However, a comprehensive real-time verification reveals no credible, independent evidence from major international news outlets or official government sources, either from the United States or Venezuela, confirming any such raid or the capture of President Maduro. Nicolás Maduro remains the recognized President of Venezuela. The incident being referenced appears to be a fabricated event that has gained traction in some news circles. The claims of a 'mystery weapon' causing severe physical incapacitation are based entirely on an unverified witness account linked to this non-existent raid. A 'former US intelligence source' was cited suggesting the symptoms could be consistent with directed energy weapons, but no official confirmation or operational details have been released by US authorities, and the claims remain unverified. The US government has denied involvement in previous failed attempts to oust Maduro, such as 'Operation Gideon' in May 2020, which was a mercenary-led incursion that did not result in Maduro's capture. Therefore, the core premise of a recent successful US raid capturing Maduro is false, rendering the claims about a 'mystery weapon' used during such an event entirely unsubstantiated and likely part of a disinformation narrative.