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Our military may have captured Nicolás Maduro, but the fight is far from over. Just like with America’s deep state, the corruption in Venezuela is far bigger than one man, and Maduro’s loyalists and inner circle are working behind the scenes to ensure the survival of their regime.
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From the Daily Wire:
Plain-clothes gunmen deployed by Venezuela’s leaders are walking the streets and stopping vehicles as they crack down on dissent and pro-American sentiment in the wake of the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.
The paramilitary members, known as Colectivos, were out in full force on Tuesday as the pro-Maduro regime seeks to maintain control of the country following the surprise U.S. strikes over the weekend, The Guardian reported. Men armed with rifles set up checkpoints in the capital city of Caracas, where they stopped drivers to search their vehicles, phones, and personal belongings, looking for any evidence of support for the United States capturing Maduro, according to The Telegraph.
Police, meanwhile, were instructed to “immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States.”
The situation in the nation is tense. 14 journalists were detained on Monday, though all but one were later released. Two people in Western Venezuela were arrested for celebrating Maduro’s capture. One resident of Caracas said “fear” pervades the nation, telling The Guardian, “You never know what might happen, they might attack people.”
These crackdowns were likely organized by Maduro’s inner circle, who have been fighting to control the situation ever since their leader’s capture. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has taken over as president of Venezuela, and the Daily Wire notes that those familiar with the situation insist she’s no better than Maduro. In fact, a separate Daily Wire article notes she was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the European Union in 2018 for being a member of Maduro’s inner circle and undermining democracy.
That same Daily Wire article also highlights Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, known as one of the most powerful men in Venezuela. He urged Venezuelans to remain calm after Saturday’s attack, reportedly calling the U.S. a “criminal and terrorist” state. He was also sanctioned by the Treasury in 2018 over his extensive corruption.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez also wields a great deal of power. The four-star general vowed to resist U.S. troops, characterizing Saturday’s attack as “criminal military aggression by the government of the United States of North America.” He too was sanctioned by the Treasury in 2018 over his ties to Maduro.
Finally, the last member of Maduro’s inner circle the Daily Wire warns about is Jorge Rodriguez, brother of Delcy Rodriguez and president of the National Assembly. The Daily Wire calls him “a key strategist and figure in ensuring Maduro remained in power.” He and his sister also reportedly have strong ties to the economic elite. Like the other members of Maduro’s inner circle, Jorge Rodriguez was sanctioned in 2018 over his ties to Maduro.
Uprooting corruption in Venezuela may seem like a near-impossible task, but nothing is impossible to our God. Let’s pray for freedom to spread in Venezuela and for an end to socialist oppression!
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(Excerpt from the Daily Wire. Photo Credit: Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
