Maduro Gone, But His Thugs Are Hunting, Arresting Anyone Who Cheered, Phones Raided for 'Trump' Searches

The tyrant is in a New York jail cell, but his iron-fisted machine is roaring louder than ever, cracking down on anyone daring to cheer his downfall while America reportedly cuts deals with the very regime we once condemned.

Venezuelan security forces have intensified repression in the days following the U.S. capture of ousted President Nicolás Maduro, detaining citizens and journalists for celebrating his removal and searching phones at checkpoints for evidence of support for the American operation.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice president, led a large pro-Maduro rally in Caracas on Tuesday, demanding his release.

"The government of Venezuela runs our country," she sdeclared in a speech on Tuesday. "No one else."

At the same time, forces boarded buses, established checkpoints and interrogated passengers, according to human rights groups and Venezuelans speaking anonymously for fear of reprisal.

"They went through people’s phones, opening their WhatsApp and typing in keywords like ‘invasion’ or ‘Maduro’ or ‘Trump’ in the chats to see if they were celebrating Maduro’s arrest," Gabriela Buada, director of Human Kaleidoscope, a Venezuelan organization that is tracking the crackdown, told the New York Times.

At least 14 journalists were detained Monday during Rodríguez's swearing-in; 13 were released and one deported.

Six citizens were arrested at checkpoints, including two elderly people in western Venezuela for firing guns in celebration.

One woman's 56-year-old husband, a produce vendor in Zulia state, shouted joy after Maduro's capture. Two days later, national police reportedly arrested him at his stall, demanding $1,000 for release; the family paid with cash, fruit and vegetables.

Rodríguez declared a 90-day emergency decree granting security forces powers to search and capture supporters of the "armed attack by the United States."

Masked colectivos militias have increased street presence.

President Trump announced Tuesday that Venezuela agreed to provide the U.S. 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil, with no immediate Venezuelan response.

Trump said Venezuelans are closing a notorious torture prison, El Helicoide, but it appeared operational Wednesday.

When asked Sunday about Venezuela's political prisoners or exiled opposition returns, Trump replied, "We haven’t gotten to that yet. What we want to do now is fix up the oil."

U.S. officials have privately pressed for expelling Chinese, Russian, Iranian and Cuban personnel, while publicly focusing on oil and drug trafficking.

Exiled opposition figure Freddy Guevara said the emergency decree shows the regime believes "Trump is playing around and they can do whatever they want."

Large state-organized rallies denounced Maduro's capture, culminating Tuesday with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello addressing thousands.

Security forces, the Maduro regime, earlier chanted: "Always loyal! Never traitors! Doubting is betrayal!"

Maduro's gone, but his thugs are emboldened, repressing freely under America's watchful—but selective—eye, all while the oil flows north.

Freedom? Not yet.