close
close

Venezuela: US Navy SEAL among the arrested foreigners

Venezuela says it has arrested six foreign nationals, including a U.S. Navy SEAL, over an alleged plot to “destabilize” the country, which has been in crisis since disputed elections earlier this year.Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed the alleged plot was directed by the CIA and aimed at assassinating leader Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. State Department dismissed the claim as “categorically false.”Video above: U.S. Navy sailor held in Venezuela, according to multiple U.S. officialsThe accusation comes as the Venezuelan opposition, several Latin American leaders and the United States refuse to recognize Maduro's disputed election victory, which was followed by deadly protests during which thousands were arrested.In a press conference on Saturday, Cabello identified the suspected Navy SEAL as William Joseph Castañeda Gómez and claimed he was the leader of the operation. The minister also gave the names of 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 have also seized 400 U.S. 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 Center was also involved. “This does not surprise us at all,” he said. He claimed that the operation had “the very clear goal of assassinating President Nicolás Maduro” and other senior Venezuelan politicians, including himself and the vice president. The State Department denied the claims. A spokesman confirmed Saturday that a member of the U.S. military had been arrested in Venezuela. The ministry was aware of “unconfirmed reports of the detention of two other US citizens” who had been arrested in the country. “Any allegations of US involvement 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 seeking more information, the spokesman said. A source in the Spanish Foreign Ministry told Reuters it was asking Venezuela for more information. “The Spanish embassy has sent a verbal note to the Venezuelan government requesting access to the detained citizens to verify their identity and nationality and to know what exactly they are accused of,” the source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. Political crisis Venezuela is still grappling with the aftermath of July's presidential election, in which Maduro claimed a third term despite global skepticism over the outcome and outcry from the country's opposition movement. The coalition backing opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez insists the election was stolen and has released online vote count lists that experts say indicate Maduro actually lost the presidency by a significant margin. The US has recognized Gonzalez as the candidate who received the most votes in that election, but has not officially recognized him as Venezuela's president-elect. Last week Gonzalez flew to Spain and fled Venezuela after an arrest warrant was issued for him accusing him of terrorism, conspiracy and other crimes. On Thursday, the US imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials allied with Maduro for allegedly obstructing the election. The US also announced that a Venezuelan plane used by Maduro for international travel was 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. Meanwhile, Maduro's government has cracked down on dissidents at home – the harshest crackdown in years, according to Human Rights Watch. Protests have been brutally suppressed, around 2,400 people have been arrested, and many others are now fleeing the country.

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”.

Video above: A U.S. Navy sailor is being held in Venezuela, according to several U.S. officials

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 senior 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.

Political crisis

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.

At home, 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.