Venezuela crisis: 5 things you need to know about Maduro, Guaidó and mass exodus
5. A CBN reporter attacked
At border towns thugs paid by Maduro's regime are attacking people, including a Christian journalist from the Christian Broadcasting Network.
Chuck Holton wrote of his experience Thursday noting that as more and more people try to leave the country, Maduro's government is targeting people for kidnapping and robbery.
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Holton returned to the border town of Cúcuta, Colombia, where Venezuelan troops had burned aid shipments.
The U.S. embassy withdrew remaining employees from the capital city Tuesday due to the intensifying unrest.
A border bridge connecting Venezuela and Colombia was also shut down, a sharp contrast from previous weeks when tens of thousands were attempting to cross the bridge and flee the country. Some are trying to cross the border in other ways often at grave risk to themselves.
"[C]rossing illegally is fraught with risk. These people say they are preyed upon by members of criminal biker gangs called Colectivos, who support Nicolas Maduro, and charge a fee or even rob people trying to get across. And they aren't exaggerating," Holton recounted of his experience.
"As I was filming along the riverbank, I was attacked by three men who tried to drag me into Venezuela. There were several signs that these attackers were tied to the regime — for example, they were smoking cigarettes which most Venezuelans can't afford since they're struggling to survive."
