Diosdado Cabello claims the arrested suspects, including a US serviceman, were planning to conduct acts of terrorism
Venezuela’s security service has reportedly thwarted a CIA-backed plot to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro and carry out acts of terrorism, according to the interior minister, Diosdado Cabello. Cabello stated that two Spanish, one Czech, and three US nationals, including an active-duty US military member, have been apprehended. He also indicated that several hundred military-grade firearms have been seized.
Maduro was re-elected to a third term in a contentious presidential election back in July, garnering 52% of the vote. The opposition, however, accused the government of rigging the ballot. Consequently, the US, the EU, most Latin American states, and the G7 have refused to recognize Maduro as the legitimate head of state.
In response, Caracas has accused Washington of attempting to orchestrate a coup.
Speaking to broadcaster Telesur on Saturday, Cabello claimed that a US citizen named Wilbert Castaneda, a Navy SEAL decorated for missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, was the ringleader of one of the groups. He was apprehended on September 1, according to the minister.
A US Department of State spokesperson confirmed to the EFE media outlet that several American citizens, including an active-duty serviceman, had been detained in Venezuela.
However, the official “categorically” dismissed allegations of US government involvement in any conspiracy to oust Maduro.
The Venezuelan interior minister also disclosed that two Spanish nationals – José María Basoa Valdovinos and Andres Martinez Adasme – had been apprehended in southern Venezuela.
According to Diosdado Cabello, both are connected to Spain’s National Intelligence Center, a claim that Madrid has denied.
The alleged plan reportedly involved mercenaries and Venezuelan criminal groups and aimed, among other things, to incite mass prison riots across the country.
Cabello stated that the alleged conspirators smuggled in approximately 400 firearms, which Venezuelan security forces seized. The group was also allegedly seeking to procure C4 plastic explosives.
He further suggested that the entire operation had been orchestrated by the White House and the CIA and was intended to assassinate President Maduro, along with Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and Cabello himself.
The suspected saboteurs were also planning to stage a false-flag attack on the Argentinian embassy in Caracas and blame it on the Venezuelan government, according to the minister.
Furthermore, the group had plans to attack public utilities and transportation infrastructure across Venezuela, according to Cabello.
“We want the world to know that Venezuela is under siege by [forces of] imperialism,” the interior minister declared, pointing the finger at “far-right” forces within the country.
“Spain has a role in this, and the US is managing this operation,” Cabello alleged.