Masked pro-regime militias have taken over parts of Caracas, setting up checkpoints and targeting Venezuelans accused of supporting the US operation that captured Nicolás Maduro.

Armed pro-regime gangs known as “Colectivos” have flooded the streets of Caracas, hunting down Venezuelans accused of supporting the US-led capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro, according to videos and multiple on-the-ground accounts.

The masked militants, many riding motorcycles and carrying automatic weapons, have reportedly set up improvised checkpoints across the capital, halting traffic during rush hour. Drivers are being forced to hand over their phones and allow searches of vehicles, with residents saying the atmosphere is increasingly dangerous and unpredictable.