Venezuela: Americans, Spaniards and a Czech arrested for “murder plan of Nicolas Maduro”

The went on to arrest three Americans, two Spaniards and a Czech as suspected destabilization plan of the country and specifically for plans to overthrow or kill him. A spokesman for the US Foreign Ministry said Saturday night (14.9.2024) that he was informed of the “conception” of a “American military” in Venezuela and referred to “unverified information on the detention of two other American nationals.” But he categorically rejected Caracas’s accusations of “integrity” of the US in a “conspiracy” aimed at the “overturn” of the Nicolas Maduro government. The case is expected to further worsen Caracas’ relations with Washington and Madrid, in the wake of the contested July presidential elections in Venezuela. The Venezuelan Interior Minister, Diosado Cabeyo, said at a press conference that the two Spaniards were allegedly linked to Spanish secret services and planned the murder of a mayor. This claim was rejected by the Spanish government, as they broadcast media in the Iberian country. Campejo also accused three Americans and a Czecho of involvement in terrorist acts, including plans to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro and other officials. “These groups seek to seize the wealth of the country and we, as a government, will respond strongly to every attempt to destabilise,” Cabeyo said. Venezuela’s Interior Minister completed that some 400 rifles from the US were seized. The State Department stressed that the US is not involved in an attempt to overthrow the Venezuelan president. “The allegations of US involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false,” said an American Foreign Ministry spokesman and added that “the US continues to support a democratic solution to the political crisis in Venezuela”. Spanish Foreign Ministry official told Reuters news agency Madrid asked Caracas for more information on the case: “The Spanish embassy informed the Venezuelan government that it is seeking access to the prisoners in order to verify their identity and nationality, as well as to inform them of the charges charged to them”. The two Spaniards were arrested while taking photographs in the city of Puerto Ayakucho, Venezuelan Interior Minister said. On Thursday Venezuela withdrew its ambassador to Spain for consultations, and invited the Spanish ambassador to explain to the foreign ministry after the Spanish Ministry of Justice’s statement on “dictatorship” Maduro. Caracas was also outraged by the decision of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to meet the opposition candidate in the Venezuelan presidential election, Edmundo Gonzales Urutia, to whom political asylum was granted in Madrid.