Americans urged to leave Venezuela as paramilitaries hunt US citizens, officials warn

Ronny Reyes / NEW YORK POST  

US citizens are being called to leave Venezuela immediately over reports that armed paramilitaries are setting up roadblocks to hunt down American citizens following the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro.

The State Department sent out a security alert from the US Embassy in Caracas on Saturday, warning Americans to quickly take flights out of the country to escape an ongoing hunt for US citizens or their allies inside Venezuela.

“There are reports of groups of armed militias, known as colectivos, setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of US citizenship or support for the United States,” the State Department warned.

"US citizens in Venezuela should remain vigilant and exercise caution when traveling by road." Local reporters and activists have documented incidents where rifle-carrying militias have set up checkpoints around Caracas to inspect vehicles entering and leaving the capital. Sources inside Venezuela confirmed the situation with The Post last week, alleging that the colectivos stopped drivers to check their phones and cars.