Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced on Tuesday that security forces had arrested a group of seven foreign individuals, including two U.S. citizens, accusing them of plotting to disrupt his upcoming inauguration.
The arrests are part of a broader operation targeting what Maduro described as “mercenaries” intending to destabilize the country ahead of his third-term swearing-in later this week.
In a televised address from the Miraflores presidential palace, Maduro stated that the detainees, captured in undisclosed locations within Venezuela, also included two Colombians, and three individuals who allegedly participated in the war in Ukraine.
While he characterized the Americans as “very high level,” Maduro did not provide specific details or evidence about their identities or alleged activities.
The Venezuelan Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, later announced the detention of 125 individuals from 25 countries in what he described as a crackdown on “sabotage and destabilization.”
Among the arrested were citizens of Colombia, the United States, Peru, Israel, and several European nations. Cabello stated that the detainees were suspected of planning terrorist acts, but no further details were provided.
The arrests come amidst ongoing political turmoil in Venezuela following the contested presidential election in July 2023. Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who has been recognized as the rightful winner by several foreign governments, including the United States, continues to challenge Maduro’s claim to victory.
While Venezuela’s electoral authority declared Maduro the winner, the opposition has released evidence suggesting widespread irregularities, including scanned copies of voting machine receipts indicating Gonzalez won by a significant margin.
The U.S. Department of State has not yet commented on the arrests. Last September, it was reported that there were four Americans arrested in Venezuela in connection with what officials claim is a plot to assassinate Maduro.
The U.S. Navy confirmed that one of the detained Americans is Wilbert Joseph Castaneda, a Navy SEAL and petty officer first class who has served since 2007.
