Vladimir Putin's alleged 'man in South America' ran his country so badly that the poorest women were forced to sell their hair to traders so they were able to buy food.
Nicolás Maduro, 61, a former bus driver-turned-president has run Venezuela with an iron fist, and almost run it into the ground. And with economic turmoil not abating, it appears that Maduro is set to take his claims on the Essequibo region to the next step as his troops organise themselves on the border with neighbouring Guyana.
Guyana has called the military buildup as a "pretext for annexation", and it comes after oil was discovered in the region.
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And as his country starved in the run up to his likely invasion, hecame ridiculously wealthy as people in his country even resorted to literally selling their hair for use in wigs and extensions to fund their next meal.
In 2019, 80,000% inflation saw people flee the country with their salaries and pensions rendered worthless. This led to rioting, looting and endemic poverty.
Mirror reporter Tom Barry was there as thousands surged over the border into the Colombian city of Cucuta.
He said: "Dragging battered suitcases, pushing baby strollers and with giant canvas holdalls hoisted on their shoulders they walk into a country where their thick wads of cash count for nothing.
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"A tide of human misery surges towards me. Some weep, some slump down in the shade, and some prepare to pawn their jewellery or even sell their long hair."
He reported how Colombian traders would pay between £10 and £60 for Venezuelan women's hair.
By the crowd-control barriers "the vultures", as he called them, waited with their scissors for women willing to sell their hair for wigs just to have enough money to continue their trip.
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He described a constant flow of people willing to sell precious rings, watches, bracelets and necklaces at pawn shops.
“We don’t even have enough to pay for a meal now we are here. We have been travelling for a long time, we are tired, and we cannot even eat or get a drink," one young mother told him.
“I just want to cry. I just cannot understand why this has been allowed to happen.”
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