The reports regarding a "secret weapon" used in the capture of Nicolás Maduro (January 2026) are closely tied to a very real and recently declassified acquisition of technology by the U.S. government.
As of January 2026, here is the detailed information on the devices obtained by the U.S. government and their suspected role in recent operations:
In late 2024, during the final weeks of the previous administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—specifically the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division—conducted a "clandestine" or undercover buy of a specialized device.
Cost: The purchase price was reportedly in the "eight-figure" range (tens of millions of dollars).
Funding: The money was provided by the Pentagon, which has been leading the technical investigation into these weapons.
Origin: Most significantly, the device contains components of Russian origin, which has reignited the debate over whether Russia's GRU (military intelligence) was behind the original "Havana Syndrome" incidents.
According to leaked briefings and recent investigative reports from early January 2026:
Portability: The device is described as backpack-sized, making it easily deployable by a single operator or a small special operations team.
Mechanism: It emits pulsed radio-frequency (RF) energy.
The "Frey Effect": It works via the "microwave auditory effect." When pulsed RF energy hits the human head, it creates a thermal expansion in the brain tissue that the inner ear perceives as sound—clicks, whistles, or humming—even though there is no external noise.
Incapacitation: At high power, these pulses cause intense pressure, vertigo, nausea, and "brain fog."
While the U.S. government has not officially confirmed the use of this device during the capture of Maduro on January 3, 2026, tactical accounts from Caracas suggest a "test" or deployment occurred:
The "Whistle": Venezuelan guards reported a high-pitched "whistle" that seemed to come from inside their own heads.
Tactical Paralysis: Unlike a flashbang or tear gas, which has a visible area of effect, this device allegedly allowed Delta Force operators to move through the Miraflores Palace while guards were curled on the floor, vomiting or clutching their heads, without a single shot being fired.
The "Invisiblity" Factor: Because the energy is invisible and the "sound" is only heard by those in the beam's path, it provided total tactical surprise.
For years, the CIA and other agencies claimed it was "very unlikely" that a foreign adversary had such a device. However, the acquisition of this physical hardware in 2024 has "blown up" those previous assumptions.
Intelligence Shift: In a January 2025 assessment, two U.S. intelligence agencies reportedly changed their stance, stating there is now a "roughly even chance" that a foreign power developed this technology to harm U.S. officials.
Ongoing Testing: The Pentagon has reportedly been testing the acquired device at secret ranges for over a year to determine its maximum range and the long-term biological damage it causes.
Would you like more details on the specific units (like the GRU's Unit 29155) suspected of developing this tech, or the medical treatments being developed for victims?