<p>Since the January 3 arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas, the question on everyone’s mind is: What happens next in Venezuela? </p><p>Maduro played a key role in shaping the system of corruption, patronage, and criminality that linked various criminal groups with the state. This system transformed Venezuela into a hybrid state, where state actors and armed groups worked in tandem to maintain social control and capture criminal rents. </p><p>Among these groups are the colectivos, paramilitary-style organizations that have been employed since the era of President Hugo Chávez to defend and enforce the government’s interests — often through threats and violence.</p><p><a href="https://insightcrime.org/news/the-colectivos-role-in-the-struggle-for-power-in-post-maduro-venezuela/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">The Colectivos’ Role in the Struggle for Power in Post-Maduro Venezuela</a> | Written by the Venezuela Investigative Unit and read by Daniel Reyes.</p><p>Visit <a href="https://insightcrime.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">insightcrime.org</a> for more information.</p>