Maduro's Capture Shatters Myth of Invincible Cuban Intelligence
For decades, Cuban intelligence agents were considered "stars" of the Cold War: they successfully prevented assassination attempts on Fidel Castro, recruited high-ranking American officials, and guarded heads of state from Angola to Panama. However, the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro—one of Havana's most valuable clients—dealt a serious blow to the reputation of these special services. WSJ writes about this in its analytical material.
Workers lower the Cuban flag near the U.S. Embassy in Havana in memory of the Cubans who died during the U.S. operation in Venezuela. January 5, 2026. Photo: AP Photo / Ramon Espinosa
Elite U.S. units began their assault on Maduro's residence around 2 AM local time on Saturday, January 3. American soldiers captured the dictator along with his wife before they could hide in a bunker.
According to General Dan Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the operation was the result of months of U.S. intelligence work and the involvement of at least one informant within the Venezuelan government. This person helped understand Maduro's habits: what he ate, what he wore, where he slept, and what pets he had.
Cuba's Massive Losses
As WSJ writes, the Cuban government confirmed the death of 32 officers belonging to the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of Interior. They formed the core of Maduro's security. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel declared two days of mourning for the fallen, calling them victims of "terrorists in imperial uniforms."
However, according to estimates by former agents and dissidents cited by the publication, the actual number of forces involved was significantly higher. It is believed that Maduro's personal security was provided by approximately 140 Cuban officers. Dozens of them reportedly sustained injuries or severe burns during the missile attack and shrapnel dispersion. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López also confirmed that the U.S. destroyed a significant part of the security service.
What's worse for the Cubans' reputation, as former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda notes, is that they failed to inflict any damage on the Americans: the U.S. lost neither a single soldier nor a single piece of equipment.
Cuban Security System
As WSJ points out, the Soviet KGB long relied on extensive networks of Cuban informants in Latin America and Africa, and the Cubans' expertise in protecting allies, detecting unrest, and suppressing dissent became a lucrative export commodity. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was oil-rich Venezuela that became a lifeline for the Cuban economy and special services.
Now, however, this alliance is under threat. U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Cuba is "ready to collapse," and Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that "this poor island seized Venezuela," and now difficult times have come for it.
Former Cuban intelligence officer Enrique García, who defected to the U.S., explains the logic of the Cuban regime: people may starve, but the repressive apparatus must have privileges. If the regime loses economic support from Venezuela, no system will withstand the unprecedented economic crisis on the island itself.
The article's author draws attention to the impressive scale of the Cuban security machine. For a poor island with a population of about 10 million people, the intelligence structure appears gigantic—it numbers around 100,000 employees.
Agents are literally everywhere: in workplaces, schools, and even cinemas, and a network of informants covers every city block. The special services possess means for monitoring telephone and cyber communications, and their employees are famous for their ability to conduct secret searches of homes without leaving traces.
This apparatus proved its effectiveness by suppressing protests in Cuba in 2021, and also played a key role in suppressing opposition in Venezuela.
Miraflores Palace — the residence of Venezuelan presidents. Photo Maxar / Getty Images
It is high-ranking officers of Cuban military intelligence who oversee Venezuela's enormous security bloc—primarily because cases of foreign agents infiltrating their own ranks or desertion are rare.
The Cuban intelligence and security group in the country was led by service veterans, including Asdrubal de la Vega. This officer was Maduro's "shadow" and slept in a room next to the overthrown dictator. The fate of de la Vega is currently unknown.
Fatal Intelligence Error
As Cedric Leighton, a former U.S. military intelligence officer, notes, intelligence is absolutely critical for VIP security, but erroneous assumptions and ideological blinkers can impair the ability to make adequate decisions.
As an example of correct behavior, the expert cites Russian President Vladimir Putin: as a former KGB officer, he makes enormous efforts to maintain complete secrecy regarding his movements, details of residence, and workplaces.
Pillars of smoke over La Carlota airport in Caracas after explosions. January 3, 2026. Photo: AP Photo / Matias Delacroix
According to Leighton, lifestyle, daily habits, and routines, which may seem trivial, actually become critically important for exploiting the vulnerabilities of heads of state. This is what proved fatal for Maduro. Leighton expresses surprise why the Venezuelan leader did not hide in some inconspicuous apartment in the middle of Caracas or in a rural area.
"If you're really trying to avoid arrest, you go to places people don't know about," WSJ quotes the expert.
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