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Journalists detained while covering Maduro seizure aftermath
At least 14 media workers were taken into custody by Venezuelan security forces on Monday as they reported on the fallout from the U.S. operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro, the country's press union confirmed.
Foreign reporters targeted, equipment searched
Thirteen of those detained worked for international news organizations, the National Union of Press Workers of Venezuela (SNTP) said. All but one were released later the same day; a single reporter was deported. The union described the detentions as part of a broader pattern of harassment against foreign correspondents, few of whom secure visas to operate inside Venezuela.
Security personnel searched the journalists' equipment, reviewed their phones, and read private messages and social media posts, according to the SNTP statement. Two reporters were seized by military counterintelligence agents, while others were held by the national intelligence service.
Detentions spread beyond Caracas
A Colombian and a Spanish journalist were also stopped at the Venezuela-Colombia border near Cúcuta. They were held incommunicado for hours before being sent back into Colombia, the union reported.
Union demands release of remaining detainees
The SNTP called the incidents "alarming" and urged authorities to free the 23 media workers still in custody across the country.
Wider repression grips capital
Residents of Caracas told BBC Mundo that masked, armed men were patrolling neighborhoods, inspecting phones and WhatsApp statuses. One community leader in Petare described a climate of fear, with heavy police and military presence alongside pro-government armed groups known as "colectivos."
A 60-year-old resident, José, said people were afraid to discuss events openly. A 33-year-old masseuse, who asked not to be named, said, "There is so much fear in the streets and in our homes."
Government flaunts security presence
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello posted a photo late Monday posing with armed police, signaling the government's intent to maintain visible control. Critics say the show of force is designed to intimidate opponents.
One anonymous source told the BBC that "the regime is not allowing news to come out of here," adding that uniformed personnel were stopping people on the streets and checking their phones.
Crackdown follows Maduro's removal by U.S. forces
The detentions occurred days after Maduro and his wife were seized in a pre-dawn U.S. raid that killed dozens of his bodyguards. While Venezuelans abroad celebrated, no public displays of joy were reported inside the country.
Opposition groups have long documented repression against dissent. Over 2,000 people were arrested during protests after the disputed 2024 presidential election, which the government-dominated electoral council declared Maduro had won. Opposition tallies, verified by independent media, indicated the opposition candidate prevailed.
In the post-election crackdown, security forces routinely checked phones for anti-Maduro messages, leading many to delete social media accounts. Hundreds arrested were later sentenced to long prison terms for "treason."
Human rights group Foro Penal reports more than 800 political prisoners remain in Venezuelan custody as of January 5.
