‘Thug’ Venezuelan leader with $25M price on his head seen berating US earthquake rescue team
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MIAMI — Venezuela’s dreaded interior minister Diosdado Cabello — who is a wanted by the US — has been slammed as a “thug” after videos showed him berating and hindering American rescuers in the country, as the death toll from last week’s twin earthquakes surged above 1,700.
As the catastrophe entered its fifth day Monday, authorities in the South American country said 5,000 people had been injured and 23,000 were impacted by the staggering temblors.
US officials have confirmed at least three Americans were killed in the twin 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude quakes that rocked the north of the country on Wednesday evening. 63f7ceaac9afdc">A dozen US citizens are missing.
US Marines and civilian search and rescue teams have deployed to help find survivors among the rubble.
Members of the elite USA-01 team, who mobilized from Virginia, managed to pull a nine-month-old baby and her mother alive from a collapsed building after they were trapped under rubble for nearly three days.
Despite their heroics, a viral video posted on social media showed Venezuela’s interior minister Diosdado Cabello shouting and waving his arms about at what appears to be a group of American rescuers.
Cabello has a $25 million price on his head by from US authorities and is wanted on charges of narco-terrorism, cocaine importation and using and carrying machine guns.
One frustrated hero can be seen pointing and replying to Cabello: “But there’s someone right over there that we’re trying to help.
#AHORA | Parte de la delegación de rescatistas de EEUU enfrenta a Diosdado Cabello y le reclama porque le están saboteando sus esfuerzos de rescatar a las víctimas.
“¿No quieres que vaya y ayude a la persona que está allí?”. pic.twitter.com/TzuSG3WKzM
Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (R-Fla.), a former firefighter, called for US authorities to snatch Cabello after the outburst.
“While the US increases its presence in #Venezuela, we should pick-up thug Diosdado Cabello and bring him to justice so he can stop impeding the distribution of aid to those impacted by the earthquake,” Gimenez commented on X in response to the video.
Cabello has been accused by the US of leading the Cartel of the Suns drug trafficking network involving high ranking officials and military officers.
The former military officer and alleged drug lord, 63, has served as Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace since 2024.
He is widely seen as the primary enforcer of state repression in Venezuela and as interior minister directs the regime’s police and intelligence services.
Even after President Nicolás Maduro’s capture by US forces this year, Cabello has remained near the top of the heap — and is said to be a key lieutenant of acting Venezuelan president Delcy Rodriguez.
Cabello is accused of having overseen the arbitrary detention and torture of political opponents and critical journalists.
President Trump said following the Caracas operation that the US would run Venezuela until a “proper transition can take place.”
Rodriguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president, has publicly thanked Trump for his support following the earthquakes.
The fallout from the earthquakes is, however, threatening to open a new front for Venezuela’s beleaguered socialist ruling class.
Videos circulated over the weekend on social media showed frustrated residents accusing military personnel of offering little assistance to civilians carrying out search and rescue operations.
“Emotionally, the country is deeply shaken,” Venezuelan pollster Ruben Chirinos said, according to the Miami Herald.
“But the anger toward the government’s response is on another level.
“The two biggest sources of anger are clear.
“First, the obstruction of aid organized by ordinary citizens.
“Second, the inaction – or worse – of the armed forces.”