A paramilitary group armed with guns has been seen patrolling the streets of Venezuela’s capital, searching for individuals who show support for Donald Trump and the US operation that captured Nicolas Maduro. These groups, loyal to Maduro, have been riding motorbikes through Caracas carrying AK-47 rifles, inspecting phones and vehicles for any signs of backing for US involvement in Venezuela.
The Venezuelan government recently declared a 90-day state of emergency to apprehend anyone associated with promoting or endorsing the US-led attack. The group, known as The Colectivos, has been photographed alongside Diosdado Cabello, Maduro’s Minister of Interior, Justice, and Peace, who continues to assert Maduro’s legitimacy despite US intervention.
Amid political unrest, Cabello affirmed Maduro’s leadership and unity within the revolutionary force, emphasizing resistance against enemy provocations. Videos circulating on social media show Cabello with the motorcycle gang members, pledging loyalty and vowing to protect Venezuela from US influence.
Concerns have been raised by an anonymous Venezuelan citizen regarding the group’s activities and the government’s emergency measures, expressing fears of surveillance and imprisonment for opposing Maduro. The Colectivos have reportedly detained 14 journalists and intensified pressure on the military, as Cabello urged forces to retaliate against perceived threats.
This situation unfolded shortly after the US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a clandestine operation. Maduro, now detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City, made a defiant appearance in court, declaring himself a “prisoner of war” and maintaining his status as the Venezuelan head of state.