A paramilitary group in Venezuela’s capital is conducting patrols, targeting individuals who express support for Donald Trump and the US operation that apprehended Nicolas Maduro. These groups, aligned with Maduro, have been observed cruising the streets of Caracas on motorcycles, armed with AK-47 rifles, in search of any signs of pro-Trump sentiment, even going as far as checking phones and vehicles for information endorsing US involvement in the country.
The alarming scene follows the Venezuelan government’s declaration of a 90-day state of emergency to detain anyone associated with promoting or backing the US-led armed intervention. The armed group, known as The Colectivos, has been seen in photos alongside Diosdado Cabello, Maduro’s Interior, Justice, and Peace Minister, who asserts Maduro’s legitimacy as the nation’s leader despite US intervention.
Amid the ongoing political turmoil, Cabello emphasized unity with Maduro, denouncing external provocations. Social media videos captured Cabello with the motorcycle gang members reiterating allegiance and resistance to US interference in Venezuela’s affairs.
Reports indicate that the paramilitary group has already apprehended and briefly detained 14 journalists. Additionally, Cabello has been heard intensifying pressure on the military, urging them to regroup and advance following perceived attacks on the regime.
The recent unrest comes shortly after the US military seized President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a covert operation. Maduro, now held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City, made a defiant appearance in court claiming to be a “president and prisoner of war.”