The ‘discombobulator’: Did US use ‘secret weapon’ in Maduro abduction?

Al JazeeraCenterEN 8 min read 100% complete by Nina Montagu-SmithJanuary 26, 2026 at 02:02 PM

AI Summary

long article 8 min

In January 2026, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez accused the United States of using Venezuela as a "weapons laboratory" during the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on January 3. Lopez claimed the US deployed advanced military technologies, including previously unused weaponry, resulting in the deaths of 47 Venezuelan and 32 Cuban soldiers. US President Donald Trump alluded to a "sonic weapon" called "the discombobulator" used in the operation, stating it disrupted equipment functionality. While details of the US mission remain undisclosed, Trump's comments and reports of intense sound waves experienced by Venezuelan security personnel support claims of novel weapon usage. The accusations and Trump's statements have fueled speculation about the nature and impact of the alleged "secret weapon."

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Caracas 30% NewsNation 30% Bruno Rodriguez Padilla 40% El Universal ×240% Cilia Flores 50% Cuba 50% Vladimir Padrino Lopez ×370% Venezuela ×580% United States ×780% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) ×490% Donald Trump ×490%

Keywords

nicolas maduro abduction 100% secret weapon 90% discombobulator 80% venezuela 80% donald trump 70% us military 70% advanced military technologies 60% sonic weapon 60% artificial intelligence 50%