Mobs of motorcycle-riding armed militia hunt Venezuelan streets for Trump supporters as crackdown intensifies

This post was originally published on this site.

In the aftermath of Nicolás Maduro’s capture by United States forces,paramilitary groups tied to the Venezuelanleader’s regime have initiated an aggressive campaign to maintain control over the country.

Mobs of motorcycle-riding civilians often armed with assault rifles, known as colectivos, have been conducting intrusive searches and establishing checkpoints to identify and punish anyone showing support for Maduro’s removal from power, Reuters reported.

The National Union of Press Workers of Venezuela reported thatarmed forcesbriefly detained fourteen journalists during Monday’s induction of Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the country’s interim leader.Residents have also reported that some Venezuelans have been afraid to leave their homes, fearing that armed forces would seize and scour their phones for signs of dissent,The Telegraphsaid.

“The future is uncertain, the Colectivos have weapons, the Colombian guerrilla is already here inVenezuela, so we don’t know what’s going to happen, time will tell,” Oswaldo, a 69-year-old Venezuelan shop owner, told The Telegraph.

The colectivos are largely controlled by Nicolás Maduro’s close ally, Diosdado Cabello, who has a $25 million bounty from the U.S.State Department largely for his role in corruption and drug trafficking.

VENEZUELA’S NEW INTERIM LEADER DELCY RODRÍGUEZ ‘HATES THE WEST,’ EX OFFICIAL WARNS

Paramilitary members rally in streets, hold poster of maduro

Paramilitary members known as “colectivos” rally to protest Nicolás Maduro’s capture by the United States armed forces in the center of Caracas, Venezuela, on January 4, 2026.(Andrea Hernández Briceño/Washington Post)

Cabello, who serves as the state’s Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, is widely known for suppressing political dissent in Venezuela.The presence of colectivos, who often serve as an unofficial arm of state repression, suggests that Maduro loyalists are desperately trying to maintain their grip on the country.

The reported crackdown began with a government directive to root out dissent against the Venezuelan regime.According to Reuters, astate of emergency decreepublished on Monday ordered police to “immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support of the armed attack by the United States.”

FROM PALACE TO PRISON: VENEZUELAN STRONGMAN MADURO LOCKED IN TROUBLED BROOKLYN JAIL

maduro speaking with massive venezuelan flag hanging at balcony

Nicolás Maduro (C) waves a national flag at the Balcón del Pueblo of the Miraflores Government Palace on Jan.23, 2019, in Caracas, Venezuela.(Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images)

As someone who conducts state-run domestic espionage through widespread coordination of surveillance and counterintelligence agencies, Cabello remains a major unpredictable and dangerous figure in the wake of Maduro’s capture, Reuters reported.

“The focus is now on Diosdado Cabello,” Venezuelan military strategist Jose Garcia told the outlet.“Because he is the most ideological, violent and unpredictable element of the Venezuelan regime.”

A U.S.State Department “wanted” poster for senior Venezuelan regime figure Diosdado Cabello, whom U.S.authorities have accused of corruption and ties to narcotics trafficking.(U.S.State Department )

Reuters reported that the former military officer was also recently spotted patrolling Venezuelan streets with security forces.

In a social media post by the Venezuelan government, footage reportedlyshowed Cabelloposing with a crowd of armed militia as they shouted, “Always loyal, never traitors.”

Reuters added that in recent weeks, Cabello was also seen on television ordering Venezuela’s military counterintelligence agency to “go and get the terrorists” and warning “whoever strays, we will know.”

men riding motorcycles flood caracas streets

Paramilitary members known as colectivos flood the streets of Caracas, Venezuela, on Jan.4, 2026.(Andrea Hernández Briceño/Washington Post)

onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.

He reportedly repeated the same rhetoric in a state television appearance Saturday, wearing a flak jacket and helmet and surrounded by heavily armed guards.

Despite the removal of Maduro, the loyalist crackdown on dissent and the media suggests that the ruling party has no intention of relinquishing its grip on power.

Reuters contributed to this report.