Venezuelan security forces have taken into custody at least five American citizens over the past few months, a US official informed CNN. This development coincides with a significant escalation in Washington's pressure campaign targeting the government of President Nicolás Maduro.
Detentions as a Tactical Leverage
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated that the circumstances surrounding each case differ. While some of the detained Americans might have been involved in activities like drug smuggling, US authorities are still gathering precise information about their activities in Venezuela and the reasons for their arrest.
Officials within the Trump administration perceive these detentions as a strategic move by the Maduro regime. They believe the Venezuelan government is holding the Americans to gain bargaining power against the United States. This tactic is seen as mirroring actions by Russia, a long-standing ally of Venezuela, which has detained several Americans on its soil in recent years to exert pressure in its dealings with Washington.
Intensifying US Pressure Campaign
The detentions occur against a backdrop of a rapidly intensifying US campaign against Maduro. In recent months, this campaign has included direct military actions. The US has conducted strikes on suspected drug boats and, in a significant escalation in December, carried out its first strike on a land target within Venezuela. This was a CIA drone strike that hit a port facility, as reported by CNN.
Furthermore, the US has employed financial tactics such as a blockade of sanctioned oil vessels. The State Department also imposed sanctions on members of Maduro's family in December, targeting three of his nephews and his sister-in-law, among other relatives.
While Trump administration officials have resisted explicitly calling for regime change, they have consistently labeled Maduro as an illegitimate leader and a narco-trafficker. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in December that "the current status quo with the current Venezuelan regime is intolerable for the United States."
Venezuela's Response and Broader Context
When questioned about the attack on the port facility, President Maduro offered a vague response, suggesting it "could be a topic we might discuss in a few days." In an interview broadcast on state-run channel VTV, he sought to project an image of stability, asserting that the national defense system guarantees territorial integrity and peace, and that "our people are safe and at peace."
Human rights activists report that Venezuela holds hundreds of political prisoners. Many were detained following a contentious 2024 election, which Maduro claimed to win but which independent observers declared undemocratic. While dozens of prisoners were released on Thursday, according to Venezuelan rights groups, Alfredo Romero of Foro Penal confirmed that none of those freed were American citizens.
The State Department and the White House did not respond to requests for comment on the detentions. The New York Times was the first to report on the recently detained Americans.
