Venezuela: US Navy SEAL among foreigners arrested over alleged CIA operation to assassinate Maduro

CNN
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Venezuela says it has arrested six foreign nationals, including a US Navy SEAL, over an alleged plot to “destabilise” the country, which has been in crisis since disputed elections earlier this year.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed that the alleged plot was directed by the CIA and aimed at the assassination of President Nicolás Maduro. The US State Department rejected this claim as “categorically false”.

The accusation comes as Venezuela's opposition, several Latin American leaders and the United States refuse to recognize Maduro's disputed election victory, sparking deadly protests in which thousands were arrested.

In a press conference on Saturday, Cabello identified the alleged Navy SEAL as William Joseph Castañeda Gómez and claimed he was the leader of the operation. The minister also named two other Americans arrested: David Estrella and Aaron Barrett Logan.

The minister said that in addition to the Americans, two Spanish citizens – José María Basoa Valdovinos and Andrés Martínez Adasme – and a Czech citizen, Jan Darmovzal, were arrested. Venezuelan authorities also seized 400 US rifles linked to the alleged plot, he said.

“The CIA is at the forefront of this operation,” Cabello said at the press conference, claiming that Spain's National Intelligence Service was also involved. “This does not surprise us at all,” he said.

He claimed that the operation had “the clear objective of assassinating President Nicolás Maduro” and other high-ranking Venezuelan politicians, including himself and the vice president.

The State Department denied the allegations. A spokesman confirmed on Saturday that a member of the US military had been arrested in Venezuela and that the department was aware of “unconfirmed reports of two other US citizens being detained.”

“Any allegations that the United States is involved in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false,” the spokesman added. “The United States continues to support a democratic solution to the political crisis in Venezuela.”

The ministry is looking for further information, the spokesman said.

A source in the Spanish Foreign Ministry told Reuters that Venezuela had been asked for further information.

“The Spanish embassy has sent a verbal communication to the Venezuelan government requesting access to the detained citizens to verify their identity and nationality and to find out exactly what they are accused of,” the source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Venezuela is still grappling with the aftermath of July's presidential election, in which Maduro claimed a third term despite global skepticism about the outcome and turmoil within the country's opposition movement.

The coalition supporting opposition leader Edmundo González insists that the election was rigged and published vote count lists online that experts say suggest that Maduro actually lost the presidential election by a wide margin.

The United States recognized González as the candidate with the most votes in that election, but did not officially recognize him as the elected president of Venezuela.

Last week, Gonzalez flew to Spain, fleeing Venezuela after an arrest warrant was issued against him accusing him of terrorism, conspiracy and other crimes.

On Thursday, the United States imposed sanctions on Venezuelan politicians allied with Maduro for allegedly obstructing the election.

The US also announced that a Venezuelan plane used by Maduro for international travel had been seized in the Dominican Republic; a second plane linked to Maduro is being monitored 24/7 by Dominican Republic authorities, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

In the country itself, Maduro's government is now cracking down on dissidents – according to Human Rights Watch, this is the harshest crackdown in years. Protests have been brutally suppressed, around 2,400 people have been arrested and many others are now fleeing the country.