Bogota. A plot to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been exposed, six foreign nationals have been arrested in this case. Two American citizens are among those arrested. Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said that these six foreign nationals had entered the country with the intention of assassinating President Maduro.
According to the minister, the plot was directed by the CIA and aimed to assassinate Maduro along with several other ministers. Cabello claimed that those arrested were mercenaries and that 400 rifles were recovered from these accused.
Cabello also showed photos of some of the rifles allegedly seized from the conspirators. He said the group was made up of three US citizens, two Spanish citizens, and one from the Czech Republic. One of the US citizens arrested is former Navy SEAL Commando member Wilbert Joseph Castaneda Gomez, who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Colombia.
However, Washington has rejected Venezuela’s allegations that the CIA plotted to assassinate Maduro. The US State Department only said that the detention of an American soldier is being confirmed. At the same time, the Spanish Embassy has not yet reacted to the arrest of its citizens. This incident has further complicated the already tense relations between Venezuela and the US, which may also have an impact at the international level.