Venezuela’s socialist government is grappling with the aftermath of President Nicolás Maduro’s detention by U.S. forces, and has begun arresting citizens who are celebrating his removal, the regime acknowledged on Tuesday.
Following a U.S. military operation in Caracas that led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, the regime, now under the “acting president” Delcy Rodriguez, declared a “state of emergency” across the nation.
According to Section 5 of this decree, all levels of police are required to seek out and detain “any person involved in promoting or supporting an armed attack by the United States against the territory of the Republic.”
This decree was reportedly signed on Saturday, January 3, 2026—precisely on the day Maduro was captured. However, there’s been no clarification from the Venezuelan government on how Maduro managed to sign this order while in custody.
Since then, Venezuelan media and activist groups have criticized the government and its law enforcement. Armed socialist groups, known as colectivos, are accused of threatening civilians and journalists, with numerous reports of detentions for celebrating Maduro’s ousting.
In Merida, local state police recently announced via Instagram that two elderly men, aged 64 and 65, were arrested in Guaraque for what was described as celebrating Maduro’s “kidnapping.” It’s still unclear if they were eventually released. Local outlets noted that this incident marks the first recorded case of detention for celebrating the removal of Maduro.
Venezuelan news outlet efecto cocuyo reported that on Tuesday, the NGO Human Kaleidoscope documented at least six detentions related to celebrations of Maduro’s arrest, with two individuals still in custody.
Two of these arrests happened at checkpoints in Caracas, while others occurred in the states of Mérida, Vargas, Miranda, and Bolívar, reportedly carried out by armed civilians not identified as state security forces.
Gabriela Buada, General Coordinator of Human Kaleidoscope, expressed concern about illegal searches, particularly at checkpoints, noting many reports involved armed civilians rather than police officers. She remarked, “We don’t know who is giving these orders or what the goal is. This environment of uncertainty will likely exacerbate fears and human rights abuses.”
Buada also mentioned there’s no consistent pattern to these arbitrary detentions; colectivos reportedly scrutinize photos and online communications to identify individuals allegedly “promoting invasion” of Venezuela.
“Everything points to this being a tactic of intimidation,” she added.
José Antonio Colina, president of Venezuelans in Exile and Politically Persecuted (VEPPEX), told Breitbart News that colectivos were mobilized to investigate the content on people’s cell phones after Maduro’s capture, further stating that Diosdado Cabello, a prominent figure in the regime, issued threats to the populace through social media.
Cabello’s influence is significant; he’s often seen as the main force behind the regime’s oppressive methods. The U.S. has previously charged him with drug-related crimes.
Colina revealed that immediately following news of Maduro’s arrest, colectivos were dispatched to homes and streets to check for anti-Maduro sentiments.
Colina noted, “Having someone like Diosdado at the helm of the repressive machinery is deeply concerning. He has stated that he will rise against the population if intervention occurs.”
Colina added that, aside from the two men in Guaraque, his organization is aware of more individuals detained for celebrating Maduro’s downfall in other locations like Mérida and Margarita Island.
Several Venezuelans who were contacted this week shared their experiences anonymously, indicating that they were simply trying to go about their daily lives as if nothing unexpected had transpired.
The Spanish newspaper El Periodico reported that many people are staying home as much as possible, fearing colectivos might react aggressively to public gatherings. A man, under the pseudonym “Arturo H.,” mentioned that they have deterred people from celebrating or protesting due to concerns about violence.
Another anonymous source remarked that while heavily armed convoys patrolled the city, there were no incidents of celebration or demonstrations in favor of the recent events.
Similarly, the British newspaper telegraph paper noted that armed members of colectivos, equipped with rifles, were stopping drivers near Avila National Park to inspect their phones and vehicles.
“The future is uncertain; colectivos are armed, and the Colombian guerrillas are already present in Venezuela. We really can’t predict what might happen next,” said Oswaldo, a 69-year-old shopkeeper.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who documents life under socialism.
