Three US citizens including Navy seal arrested in Venezuela over Maduro assassination plot

Venezuelan authorities have announced the arrest of six foreign nationals, including a US Navy SEAL, in connection with an alleged CIA-orchestrated plot to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro.

The arrest were announced by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who gave details of the alleged operation aimed to destabilise Venezuela’s government amid ongoing political turmoil following disputed presidential elections in July.

Among the arrested individuals is William Joseph Castañeda Gómez, a US Navy SEAL identified by Cabello as the leader of the operation.

Two other Americans, David Estrella and Aaron Barrett Logan, were also named in the arrests.

Additionally, two Spanish nationals, José María Basoa Valdovinos and Andrés Martínez Adasme, and a Czech citizen, Jan Darmovzal, were detained.

Authorities also confiscated 400 US rifles allegedly linked to the plot.

“The CIA is at the forefront of this operation,” Cabello asserted during a televised news conference, further accusing Spain’s National Intelligence Center of involvement. He claimed the plot targeted not only President Maduro but also high-ranking officials, including Cabello himself and Venezuela’s vice president.

The US State Department swiftly denied the allegations.

A spokesperson acknowledged the detention of a US military member and confirmed unverified reports of two additional US citizens detained but refuted any involvement in a plot against Maduro.

Not the first time

This is not the first time Venezuela has announced the arrest of US nationals. Previously amid tension that followed the 2020 elections that the Western countries did not recignis a former US Green Beret, Jordan Goudreau, awarded three Bronze Stars for his valor in Iraq and Afghanistan, took responsibility for a 2020 failed raid to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

He claimed the operation, involving a makeshift force of soldiers trained in Colombia, aimed to uphold Venezuelan democracy following the internationally disputed 2018 reelection of Maduro.

Another US marine was detained at a security checkpost in Venezuela the same year.

In both cases US officials had denied any involvement while initial US media reports tried to paint a picture where the detained people were innocnet and being framed by President Maduro.

The latest development also comes amid heightened tensions in Venezuela, where Maduro’s re-election in July has been met with widespread skepticism both domestically and internationally.

Opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez and his supporters claim the election was rigged, with evidence suggesting Gonzalez won by a significant margin. Despite this, Venezuela’s Supreme Court, aligned with Maduro, upheld his victory.

The political crisis has led to a harsh crackdown on dissent within Venezuela, with thousands of protesters arrested.

The US has recently imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials accused of obstructing the election process, further straining relations between Washington and Caracas.