Venezuelan Police Launch Manhunt for Alleged U.S. Collaborators After Maduro, Flores Capture
Venezuelan security agencies have begun a sweeping manhunt for alleged collaborators in the wake of the reported arrest of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. special forces, following the proclamation of a nationwide state of emergency, PulseNets learnt.
A presidential decree, which took effect on Saturday but was only fully released to the public on Monday, directed all federal, state, and municipal police formations to identify and apprehend individuals suspected of providing support to the U.S. operation, information obtained by PulseNets indicates.
The emergency order reportedly empowers security units to intensify surveillance and internal investigations, as authorities seek to determine how the operation was executed with apparent precision.
Several U.S. media organisations had earlier reported that American forces appeared to receive direct on-the-ground assistance during the mission. According to details reported, at least one figure within Mr Maduro’s inner circle is accused of repeatedly leaking intelligence related to his movements and location.
Sources who spoke to PulseNets described the alleged collaboration as a “significant breach” that has triggered panic within Venezuela’s political and security establishment.
Amid the unfolding crackdown, the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP), Venezuela’s journalists’ union, reported that 14 journalists were detained during the initial phase of the emergency. The group told PulseNets that the arrests occurred while reporters were covering security deployments and political reactions linked to the decree.
In a later update, the union said all detained journalists had been released, stressing that “journalism must not be treated as a crime, even under a state of emergency.”
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The developments have intensified international scrutiny of Venezuela’s political crisis, with observers warning that the search for collaborators and the brief detention of journalists could further strain press freedom and civil liberties in the country.
