7/23/2025–|Last update: 19:32 (Mecca time)
In a scene that sparked a wave of interaction and widespread controversy on social media, users circulated during the past few days a video showing a group of men who are bound by handcuffs at an airport, accompanied by strict security forces, amid allegations that the clip documents the deportation of prisoners from the United States to South Africa.
The clip that invaded communication platforms in recent days has won more than 3 million views within 72 hours, and was accompanied by conflicting accounts, which were re -presented in a completely different context from reality.
Donald Trump America Government is now deporting Notorous Prisoners to the Southern Africa 😒
Our Foreign Minister Tuggar was Right. @Yusuftuggar pic.twitter.com/5Abpr6VD1
– Ainà Dipo 🇳🇬 (@Dipoaina1) July 19, 2025
“Bad prisoners”
3 documented accounts of the blue badge on the “X” platform inflated the circulating video clip, which shows a group of men registered with the handcuffs inside an airport, under tight security guard, and was accompanied by misleading accounts that linked Ziva to the deportation of prisoners from the United States to African countries.
One of these accounts has claimed that the scene is documenting an operation carried out by the administration of US President Donald Trump to deport “reputable” prisoners to South Africa.
While another account claimed that the destination of the prisoners was to the Kingdom of Iswatini located in the south of the continent, which was previously known as the Kingdom of Swaziland.
Trump Deported these People to Eswatin SO Excel them Soon in your NeighBorhood in South Africa …… pic.twitter.com/ci3ce2jr4a
– Living for Tomorrow. (@Leonvdmerwe8) July 19, 2025
Usa Deported these People to Eswatini 🙆🏾♂️🙆🏾♂️
Guess where thy gonna end up 🤷🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/qpfaswu8g
– Benzito 🇿🇦 (@zito142) July 19, 2025
Video source
However, despite the widespread spread, these allegations were not based on any reliable sources or official reports, which prompted the “Sanad” agency, which is the arm of verification in the Al -Jazeera media network to discuss the origin of the video and the real context.
By conducting research and verification on the clips and information attached to them, Sanad concluded that the video that won tens of millions of views on multiple platforms in recent days is due to the deportation of Venezuelan citizens who were held by El Salvador.
It turned out that the first to publish the video circulating on July 18 was the President of Salvador Naguib Abu Kila, as he won more than 16 million views on his official accounts in “Tek Tok” and “X”.
@nayibbukele Today, we have handed over all the venezuelan nationals defained in our country, account of being part of the Criminal Organization Tren De Aragua (TDA). Many of them Face Multiple Charges of Murder, Robbery, Rape, and Other Serious Crimes. As was off known to the venezuelan regime back in April, we carried out this expression in retensen for a consisiderable Number of Venezuelan Political Prisoners, People that Regime Had Kept in Its Prisons for Years, as well as all the American Citizens IT Was Holding As Hostages. These Individuals are now in route to el salvador, where they will make a brieff stop before Continuing their journey home. This operation Is How, Thanks to the Tireless Efforts of Many Officials from Both the United Stats and El Salvador, and Above all, Thanks to Almighty God, it was Achieved. In this, as in Other Matters, I Remind You: Patience and Trust.
♬ Original Sound – Nayib Bukele
Today, we have handed over all the venezuelan nationals defained in our country, account of being part of the Criminal Organization Tren De Aragua (TDA). Many of them Face Multiple Charges of Murder, Robbery, Rape, and Other Serious Crimes.
As was Offered to the Venezuean … pic.twitter.com/teuit4girt
– Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) July 18, 2025
Today, we have handed over all the venezuelan nationals defained in our country, account of being part of the Criminal Organization Tren De Aragua (TDA). Many of them Face Multiple Charges of Murder, Robbery, Rape, and Other Serious Crimes.
As was Offered to the Venezuean … pic.twitter.com/teuit4girt
– Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) July 18, 2025
Abu Kila indicated in the post that his country handed over all its detained Venezuelan, and the accused wrote a part of the criminal organization “TDA” (TDA), who face multiple accusations that include killing, theft, rape, and other crimes, “stressing that the process was carried out thanks to the efforts of El Salvador and the United States of America.
Exchange
On the other hand, Venezuela released 10 American prisoners last Friday in exchange for the return of many immigrants, who were deported from the United States to El Salvador this year, as part of the Trump administration campaign against immigrants.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, 10 Americans were held in Venezuela on their way to freedom, I would like to thank my team, to help them secure an agreement to release all American detainees, in addition to the release of Venezuelan prisoners,” said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.