A plot to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been exposed, in which six foreign nationals have been arrested. These arrests include two American citizens. 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, this plot was directed by the CIA, which aimed to kill Maduro as well as target several other ministers. Cabello claimed that those arrested were mercenaries and 400 rifles have been recovered from these accused.
Cabello also showed pictures of some rifles in the case, which were allegedly seized from these conspirators. He said that this group was made up of three citizens of America, two from Spain, and one from the Czech Republic. One of the arrested US citizens is former Navy SEAL Commando member Wilbert Joseph Castaneda Gomez, who has 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 commented on the arrest of its citizens. This incident has further complicated the already tense relations between Venezuela and the US, which can also have an international impact.