Venezuelan regime launches fierce crackdown on civil society in response to Trump’s ‘abduction’ of Maduro – with feared secret police given ‘search and capture’ orders

The Venezuelan regime has launched a violent crackdown on civil society in response to Donald Trump’s extraordinary kidnapping of dictator Nicolas Maduro.

Interim leader Delcy Rodriguez ordered the secret police he feared to ‘search and capture’ alleged collaborators following Saturday’s special forces raid.

Armed men in civilian clothes were seen patrolling the streets in the capital Caracas, using Constitutional rights usually granted to natural disasters to capture dissidents.

Sources in the heavily guarded autocracy told the Mail there were fears about the disappearance of journalists from two major American news agencies who had reportedly been banned from leaving the country.

On Saturday, a chilling ‘Gaceta Authority’ Article Five declaration was issued on behalf of President Maduro, declaring a ‘state of external turmoil’.

But the full force of the emergency powers only began to be felt after Gaceta was published on Monday evening.

‘The actions taken by the United States Government against Venezuelan territory make it necessary and urgent to take extraordinary security and defense measures to repel aggression,’ he said.

Gaceta ordered: ‘The national police, state and municipal police agencies shall undertake to immediately search and apprehend throughout the national territory any person who incites or supports the armed aggression of the United States of America against the Republic, with the aim of placing at the disposal of the Office of the Public Prosecutor and the criminal justice system, with full observance of due process and the right to defence.’

At least eight journalists were captured and detained on Monday night, only three of whom were released.

Delcy Rodriguez ordered the secret police he feared to ‘search for and capture’ the alleged collaborators. Image: A gunman in Caracas

Other reporters in the country reported that regime supporters were intimidating them with growing fears of their colleagues who suddenly disappeared while reporting in the field.

A local journalist in the capital, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Mail: ‘This is the regime that tells us nothing has changed.

‘These people have no limits. They will do what they have to do; They will do anything to stay in power and keep authority on their side.

‘This is a campaign of harassment against the press in Venezuela.’

Another reporter told us: ‘I heard that my friend was with a group of journalists when the government arrived. It disappeared. We’re trying to find out what happened to him.

‘Everything is moving so fast.’

Haunting photographs show plainclothes armed men wearing balaclavas stopping cars and questioning drivers on the streets of Caracas.

Men dressed all in black, with bulletproof vests and large assault rifles, are looting the streets in groups.

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are seen arriving in handcuffs on a helipad in Manhattan for a hearing in the Southern District of New York on January 5, 2026.

A supporter of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro carries his portrait during a rally in front of the National Assembly in Caracas

A motorcyclist carries a portrait of Maduro captured after US airstrikes

Galicia also calls for the ‘militarization’ of public infrastructure, particularly the ‘oil industry’.

This comes after Mr Trump announced that the US would ‘manage’ Venezuela and retain control of its vast oil reserves.

He claimed that Ms. Rodriguez was following Washington’s instructions, but that the pressure would put pressure on the US President to step in and protect the public.

In recent hours, journalists operating in Venezuela were frantically warning their colleagues to delete all conversations about Maduro and his capture.

An instruction seen by the Mail reminded reporters to remove photos automatically downloaded from their messaging accounts.

He warned that the regime’s secret police were ‘walking like crazy in Caracas, Valencia and Maracay’.

The decree places ‘all national territory’ under a constitutional emergency regime with full army mobilization and military control of basic civilian infrastructure.

Acting Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodruguez orders crackdown on civil society in Venezuela

Crowds gather in Caracas with flags to call for the release of President Maduro

Donald Trump is preparing to appoint US officials to monitor the interim leadership in Venezuela after the capture and extradition of Nicolas Maduro over the weekend

Civilian personnel in vital sectors will be ‘temporarily subject to military regulations’, while authorities will be able to ‘restrict the free movement of persons with vehicles’ across the country.

Public meetings and demonstrations were banned and entry into national territory was strictly restricted.

The regime can ‘seize’ any private property ‘necessary for national defence’, while all existing laws ‘incompatible’ with the decree are ‘temporarily suspended’.

The emergency powers will be in place for 90 days, after which they can be extended for another three months.

He calls for “serious patriotic enthusiasm” and “civilian military police unity” in the face of the US’s “armed attack”.