Venezuela says US Navy SEAL among foreigners arrested over alleged CIA ‘operation’ to assassinate Maduro
Buraopost — Venezuelan authorities announced the arrest of several foreigners, including a US Navy SEAL identified as Wilbert Joseph Castañeda Gomez. The arrests are linked to an alleged CIA operation to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro. Authorities claim the plot was part of a larger attempt to destabilize the government, with plans to assassinate high-ranking officials, including Maduro himself. @Buraopost reports that the SEAL, along with two other Americans, a Czech citizen, and two Spaniards, were detained following a lengthy intelligence operation.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who revealed the arrests on national television, showcased a collection of confiscated rifles, allegedly part of the plot. The U.S. State Department has denied any involvement, emphasizing its commitment to peaceful, democratic solutions in Venezuela.
Nevertheless, tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela have escalated in recent months, particularly after the disputed presidential election in July, where President Maduro claimed a controversial victory amidst accusations of election fraud by opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez.
International observers and opposition activists have questioned the legitimacy of the election results, claiming Gonzalez won by a significant margin. The controversy intensified after Venezuela's Supreme Court, loyal to the Maduro administration, confirmed his win despite widespread protests.
Following the election, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on 16 Maduro allies, accusing them of undermining democracy and violating human rights.
The arrests are part of a broader narrative in which Maduro has repeatedly accused the U.S. of orchestrating covert operations to unseat him. In a high-profile case last year, Maduro negotiated the release of 10 Americans held in Venezuela in exchange for a close ally, Alex Saab, who was detained in the U.S. for money laundering charges. Saab's release was part of a deal with the Biden administration to ease U.S. sanctions against Venezuela, showcasing how imprisoned Americans in the country have often been used as leverage for political concessions.