Venezuela arrests foreigners allegedly involved in a plot to kill President Maduro

15 September 2024, 01:54

Venezuela Pro-Government Rally
Venezuela Pro-Government Rally. Picture: PA

The government claimed the foreign citizens were part of a CIA-led plot to kill some of the country’s most senior officials.

Three Americans, two Spaniards and a Czech citizen were arrested on Saturday after Venezuelan officials accused them of coming to the South American country to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro.

The arrests were announced on state television by Diosdado Cabello, the nation’s powerful interior minister.

Mr Cabello said the foreign citizens were part of a CIA-led plot to overthrow the Venezuelan government and kill several members of its leadership. In the television programme, Mr Cabello showed images of rifles he said were confiscated from some of the plotters of the alleged plan.

The American citizens included a member of the Navy, who Mr Cabello identified as Wilbert Joseph Castañeda Gomez. Mr Cabello said Mr Gomez was a former navy seal who had served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Colombia.

Venezuela Arrests
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro addresses government loyalists gathered at the presidential palace (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)

Spain’s embassy in Venezuela did not reply to a request for comment on the arrests of its citizens.

The US State Department confirmed the detention of a US military member and said it was aware of “unconfirmed reports of two additional US citizens detained in Venezuela”.

“Any claims of US involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false. The United States continues to support a democratic solution to the political crisis in Venezuela,” the statement said.

The announcement of the arrests comes just two days after the US Treasury imposed sanctions on 16 allies of Mr Maduro, who were accused by the US government of obstructing voting during the disputed July 28 Venezuelan presidential election and carrying out human rights abuses.

Earlier this week, Spain’s parliament recognised opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the winner of the election, angering Mr  Maduro’s allies who called on the Venezuelan government to suspend commercial and diplomatic relations with Spain.

Tensions between Venezuela’s government and the US have increased following the election, whose result sparked protests in which hundreds of opposition activists were arrested.

Venezuela Election
Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez waves to supporters during a political event (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)

Venezuela’s Electoral Council, which is closely aligned with the Maduro administration, said the president won the election with 52% of the vote, but did not provide a detailed breakdown of the results.

Opposition activists surprised the government by collecting tally sheets from 80% of the nation’s voting machines. The tally sheets collected by the opposition were published online and indicate Mr Gonzalez won the election with twice as many votes as Mr Maduro.

Despite international condemnation over the election’s lack of transparency, Venezuela’s supreme court, which has long backed Mr Maduro, confirmed his victory in August. Venezuela’s attorney general then filed conspiracy charges against Mr Gonzalez, who fled to Spain last week after it became clear he would be arrested.

Mr Maduro has dismissed requests from several countries, including the leftist governments of Colombia and Brazil, to provide tally sheets that prove he won the election.

Mr Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, has long claimed the US is trying to overthrow him through sanctions and covert operations.

The Maduro administration has previously used Americans imprisoned in Venezuela to gain concessions from the US government.

In a deal conducted last year with the Biden administration, Mr Maduro released 10 Americans and a fugitive wanted by the US government to secure a presidential pardon for Alex Saab, a close Mr Maduro ally who was held in Florida on money laundering charges.

According to US prosecutors, Mr Saab had also helped Mr Maduro to avoid US Treasury sanctions through a complex network of shell companies.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

President Trump Hosts Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba At The White House

Donald Trump slams brakes on some China tariffs in third trade war U-turn

A British man found dead with his wife inside their isolated French villa

British couple found dead in French villa named as fears former organised crime financial investigator was 'murdered'

At least two dead after the plane crashed in Sao Paulo

Plane crash claims at least two lives as light aircraft smashes into a bus in Sao Paulo

The Bering Air Caravan was heading from Unalakleet to Nome

Search under way as Bering Air plane carrying 10 people disappears while flying over Alaska

A British couple was reportedly found dead by a neighbour in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue.

British couple found dead inside 'isolated' French villa in 'feared burglary gone wrong'

Inga Gehricke, five, went missing following a family barbecue in Germany back in 2015.

Police launch fresh search efforts for missing girl linked to prime Madeleine McCann suspect

A utility firm has admitted its equipment started one of the LA fires last month.

California utility says its equipment likely sparked fire that raged through LA

Salim Iskef, 29, was one of ten people killed by lone gunman Rickard Andersson, 35, at Orebro's Risbergska adult education centre on Tuesday.

Heartbreaking final words of Sweden mass shooting victim shared with mum and fiancé revealed

Donald Trump is reportedly set to unveil his 100-day peace plan for Ukraine next week.

Donald Trump poised to unveil '100-day' peace plan for Ukraine next week

During a visit from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump announced plans for US ownership of the Gaza Strip, declaring "the Gaza thing has never worked."

Donald Trump claims no US troops will be needed for his plan to turn Gaza Strip into 'Riviera of the Middle East’

The chilling footage was reportedly taken by a student at the school.

Chilling Sweden mass shooting footage reveals 'gunman's scream' before opening fire and killing 10

Ebony McIntosh passed away aged 24.

Tributes pour in for beloved Brit travel influencer who died suddenly on 'dream' trip to Sri Lanka

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky says any peacekeeping force for Ukraine needs American soldiers.

Zelensky warns any peacekeeping force for Ukraine without US troops would be a 'win for Russia'

Two planes collide at Seattle Airport as Japan Airlines' wing slices through tail of Delta aircraft

Two planes collide at Seattle Airport as Japan Airlines' wing slices through tail of Delta aircraft

Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Ukraine accuses Russian spies of orchestrating bomb attacks on army offices

Nigel Farage has said he finds Donald Trump's plan for the US to own Gaza "very appealing".

Nigel Farage says Donald Trump's plan to 'take over Gaza' sounds 'very appealing'