Nicaragua Arrests Dozens for Backing Maduro Capture

Nicaraguan authorities have reportedly detained dozens of people for celebrating or voicing support for the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to human rights monitors and local media.

The arrests follow the U.S. military operation last week that detained Maduro and his wife in Caracas, extraditing them to New York to face criminal charges. Nicaragua’s government, led by President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, is a close ally of the Maduro administration.

A human rights group monitoring the situation stated that at least 60 people were arbitrarily detained, primarily for social media comments or private expressions of support for the U.S. operation. Reports indicate many remain in custody without formal legal proceedings.

Local outlets describe the government as being on a “state of alert,” increasing surveillance in neighborhoods and online following Maduro’s capture.