Along with the President of Venezuela, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, early this morning U.S. special forces captured his wife and chief adviser as well, Cilia Flores (68), who was not only the first lady but also the most powerful woman in Venezuela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U.S. troops pulled them both from their bedroom and quickly removed them from the country so they could face drug trafficking charges before a U.S. court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCilita,\u201d as Maduro affectionately calls her, served as first lady for more than a decade \u2014 although in the official jargon of the socialist movement known as Chavismo she is referred to as the \u201cfirst combat force\u201d (primera combatiente). She has been Maduro\u2019s partner for more than 30 years, during which she built her own political capital and was considered one of the most powerful women in Venezuela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n