Posted on 01/01/2026 10:18:00 PM PST by nickcarraway
Venezuelan security forces have detained at least five Americans in recent months as the US has built a pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a US official familiar with the matter told CNN.
The circumstances of the individual cases vary, and some could have been involved in drug smuggling, the official said. US officials are still collecting information about what the Americans were doing in Venezuela and at the time of their detention, the official added.
Trump administration officials believe that the Maduro regime is detaining the Americans to build leverage against the US, the official said, as the pressure campaign against the Venezuelan leader — including the US strikes on drug boats, a CIA strike on Venezuelan port facility and recent oil blockade — has intensified in recent months.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Here we go. One American hostage will be released from Venezuela when one drug boat is allowed through to the US for a delivery.
We should make the Israelis look like Quakers if that happens.
Bad move, this time.
“Here we go. One American hostage will be released from Venezuela when one drug boat is allowed through to the US for a delivery.”
That would work with a Democrat. I think it will be playing into Trump’s hands. Think “We want Perdicaris alive or Raisuli Dead.”
I bet they are all drug dealers. No good reason for Americans to be there. Hang them.
Like the old time American classic cars all over Cuba, the Venezuelans may be behind the times and believe Jimmy Carter types are still running DC. Like the Iranians holding the blindfolded American Embassy citizens hostage while skinny guys carried out wet garbage in the American flag. 444 days until Reagan.
That will NOT go over well with Donald Trump.
Eat another 80/20 sangwich lefties, you cain't help yourselves.
A significant number of Venezuelans live in Florida, with estimates varying slightly by year, but generally placing the population around 330,000 to over 380,000, representing nearly half of all Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S., primarily concentrated in South Florida’s Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, as well as the Orlando area.
Just saying.
Do they also have daycare centers? I hope Mr. DeSantis has things in order.
It was pretty dumb of them to be there to begin with.
They look like clean cut family guys to me...
The leftists now have someone new to cheer for.
IOW, Venezuela took 5 Americans hostage to be used in negotiations with the US.
A bunch of Maryland dads!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.