The Hub of Terrorism: Venezuela

Last week in Venezuela, five U.S. Citizens and one permanent U.S. resident were sentenced to lengthy prison sentences due to trumped up charges of embezzlement. Three years ago these men were lured into Caracas for a meeting but once they arrived they were jailed. These men did not receive a a fair trial and no evidence was provided to prove a lawful detention.

Currently Venezuela is run by Nicolas Madura, whom many consider to be an illegitimate leader due to his regime using criminal activities to hold his power. The Madura Regime has created an environment that has become a safe haven for terrorist organizations. This regime is in support of violent groups such as the National Liberation Army, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia dissidents, and Hezbollah. Among terrorizing Venezuela’s own citizens on a daily basis, these groups put American citizens in harms way as well. This regime intentionally takes American Citizens to use them as political pawns. This has become clearer over the years as the regime captures more Americans and wrongfully detains them while it simultaneously increases the terrorism within its country.

Good Reads:

The Madura-Hezbollah Nexus

CITGO 6

Venezuela’s Crime-Terrorist Convergence