Name: Venezuelas colectivos: Suspicion, fear as local groups patrol streets
Uploaded: 2026-01-15T07:34:15.494Z
Duration: 2 min 31 s
Description: Controversial community groups with government ties dominate parts of Venezuela – some provide services, others spread fear.

Controversial community groups with government ties dominate parts of Venezuela – some provide services, others spread fear.

Caracas

The U.S has launched strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities and arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro along wife his wife.

Venezuela Strikes

In Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, residents are returning to daily routines after a period of uncertainty, but concerns persist due to the visible presence of colectivos—community groups historically aligned with the government. While human rights organizations and opposition groups have accused some colectivos of intimidation and violence, groups like CUPAS deny these allegations and claim their mission is to protect and support local communities.

CUPAS members state their loyalty to President Nicolás Maduro and emphasize their focus on peace, community development, and opposition to foreign intervention. The group includes women and young people and insists it is not a guerrilla organization. For many Venezuelans, colectivos symbolize both the fragility and protective aspects of the state as the nation navigates sanctions, internal divisions, and external pressures.

Venezuela's colectivos: Suspicion, fear as local groups patrol streets

In Caracas and in other cities, Venezuelans are gradually resuming their daily routines following days of uncertainty. However, fear and mistrust are still here because colectivos are roaming the streets of Venezuela. Colectivos are community-based groups that have historically aligned themselves with Venezuela's Bolivarian movement. Human rights organizations and political opposition groups have accused some colectivos of intimidation and violence, allegations the groups deny. Al Jazeera spoke exclusively with one of these groups named CUPAS. The group says it rejects violence and describes its mission as protecting local communities and promoting what it calls social organization. CUPAS was created as a social movement to protect the social politics of our president Nicolás Maduro. We are a movement created to bring peace to all Venezuelans, for peace and quiet to prevail in every community. Members say their mission is helping vulnerable communities in Guarenas, a city in greater Caracas. The colectivo says its plans to maintain a visible presence in the streets, citing what it describes as political uncertainty and external pressure on Venezuela. CUPAS claims that says they will still be loyal to Nicolás Maduro, regardless of the accusation against him. We expect President Nicolás Maduro to return soon. From the crib of the revolution, President Maduro, we send you our best regards. The entire population is with you. The movement also includes women and young people who say they want peace and development for their neighborhoods. They expressed opposition to foreign military intervention, saying they support a negotiated solution for Venezuela's political crisis. I make sure that CUPAS is not seen as a guerrilla group. We don't want to be seen as something to destroy, but as something to help the communities. For many Venezuelans, they are both a reminder of the state's fragility and protection. As the country navigates sanctions, internal division and external pressures, the colectivos are a symbol of how powers, politics and daily life are inseparable in Venezuela. Nori Soto, Algeciras, Caracas.

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Venezuela's colectivos: Suspicion, fear as local groups patrol streets

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