A U.S. Navy sailor has been detained by Venezuelan authorities after traveling to the country on personal business without official authorization. According to U.S. defense officials, the sailor was apprehended on August 30, 2024, in Caracas and is currently being held by the Venezuelan intelligence agency, SEBIN. The sailor’s name has not been publicly released, and it remains unclear why he traveled to Venezuela. His detention marks the second incident in five months where a U.S. service member was arrested during unauthorized travel to a country with strained relations with the United States.
The U.S. government has been in contact with Venezuelan authorities to gather more information about the sailor’s status. Pentagon officials confirmed that the Navy and State Department are working together to address the situation, though they have yet to confirm any details regarding the sailor’s motives or plans. The State Department has long advised U.S. citizens, particularly military personnel, against traveling to Venezuela due to the high risk of wrongful detention.
This detention comes shortly after U.S. authorities seized an aircraft belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for sanctions violations, adding further tension to the already strained U.S.-Venezuelan relations. The White House is closely monitoring the situation, and while the sailor’s fate remains uncertain, efforts are underway to resolve the matter through diplomatic channels.
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