The Venezuelan government has ordered a nationwide police operation to locate and arrest individuals accused of supporting the recent United States-backed military operation that ousted President Nicolás Maduro.
The decree, dated January 3, was signed by Maduro himself from detention, just hours after his capture by U.S. forces. Maduro is currently held in New York, facing federal charges related to alleged narcotics and weapons trafficking.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez endorsed and published the order on Monday. It commands all national, state, and municipal police to “immediately undertake the search and capture throughout the national territory of any person involved in the promotion or support of the armed attack of the United States of America against the territory of the Republic, with a view to its trial.”
Decree Prepared in Advance, Expands Military Powers
The text of the decree was reportedly prepared in late September 2025, following the initial U.S. naval deployment to the region, but its contents were not publicized until now.
Beyond the manhunt, the order also mandates “the militarization of public service infrastructure, the oil industry and other basic industries of the State.” Employees of these critical sectors will be temporarily placed under military authority.
This crackdown is enabled by a 2024 law pushed by Maduro that punishes Venezuelans who “support calls for sanctions or any foreign damage” with severe penalties, including lifetime bans from political office and confiscation of property.
Acting President Had Foreshadowed “Activation”
In September, then-Vice President Rodríguez explained that activating such a decree would empower the government to close all borders and “activate all kinds of economic, political and social plans” to maintain control.
Meanwhile, the ousted leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, have entered not-guilty pleas in a Manhattan federal court.
The development signals a hardening of posture by the remaining Maduro loyalist government in Caracas, setting the stage for further internal repression and confrontation with the United States and its allies.
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