The Venezuelan government has detained three American citizens suspected of plotting to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro and subvert the country, as alleged conspiracies remain at large in the region.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced on Saturday that three Americans, two Spaniards and a Czech citizen had been arrested for allegedly plotting attacks to “destabilize” Maduro and his government through “violent actions,” adding that the government had seized hundreds of weapons, Agence France Presse reports,
Cabello did not say when the six men were arrested, but claimed that “the CIA and Spain's CNI are in charge of this operation.” Spanish outlets reported,
He said two Spaniards had recently been detained in Puerto Ayacucho in the southwest and said those detained were sought for mercenaries with the “very clear objective” of assassinating Maduro.
“We know that the United States government has ties to this operation,” Cabello stressed.
“They contacted French mercenaries, they contacted mercenaries from Eastern Europe and they are trying to attack our country”, he said, adding that “more than 400 rifles were seized” that came from the United States.
He also accused the detainees of plotting “terrorist acts”.
Cabello said three American and Czech citizens were also arrested and were being held in connection with the alleged plot involving intelligence agencies from the United States and Spain, as well as Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, the outlet reported.
The United States, Spain and the Czech Republic have not yet responded to these claims.
These arrests have taken place at a time when tensions have increased between the US and Spain over the issue of Venezuela. disputed july presidential electionThe country's opposition has accused Maduro of stealing the election after he failed to release a detailed vote count to support his claim of victory over Edmundo Gonzalez.
Washington on Thursday imposed sanctions against 16 Venezuelan allies of Maduro, accusing them of obstructing a “transparent electoral process” by interfering with the vote and not publishing accurate results.
The South American country rejected the measures as a “crime of aggression” and Maduro honored four military officials targeted under the sanctions.
This week Caracas also recalled its ambassador to Madrid for consultations and summoned Spain's ambassador to Venezuela for talks, after a Spanish minister accused Maduro of running a “dictatorship”.
Tensions are also arising because Caracas is engaged in political games with the United States, which has recognized Gonzalez as the election winner.
Venezuela was also angered by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's decision to meet González and warned Spain against any “interference” in its affairs.
