(GoRealNewsNow.com) – Accusing them of plotting to destabilize the country by attempting to assassinate dictator Nicolás Maduro and other top leaders, Venezuelan authorities have arrested three Americans, two Spanish and a Czech citizen.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed the six foreigners were involved in a CIA-led scheme against the country’s leadership. Cabello also stated that more than 400 rifles linked to the alleged plot were seized.
The arrests come amid rising international tensions following Venezuela’s contested July 28 presidential election.
The opposition claims Maduro stole the election from Edmundo González, who the U.S. recognizes as the legitimate winner. Maduro is accused of election fraud in order to defeat González.
By late Saturday, the State Department rejected Venezuela’s claims of U.S. involvement in the plot. The department called the allegations “categorically false” and reaffirmed its support for a democratic solution to Venezuela’s political crisis.
Moreover, the State Department also confirmed the detention of a U.S. military member in Venezuela and acknowledged “unconfirmed reports of two additional U.S. citizens detained.”
One of the arrested Americans is Wilbert Joseph Castañeda Gomez, a Navy member detained earlier this month while traveling to Venezuela for personal reasons.
Cabello claimed Gomez was the leader of the operation and identified the other two Americans as David Estrella and Aaron Barrett Logan.
After Maduro’s contested election win, Venezuela’s opposition published over 80% of the voting machine tally sheets online. These sheets suggested González had defeated Maduro by a wide margin.
On the contrary, the National Electoral Council (CNE), closely aligned with Maduro, reported that he won with just under 52% of the vote after 97% of the ballots were counted in early August. Maduro has refused to release the complete tally sheets.
The election results favoring Maduro sparked widespread protests among Venezuelan citizens demanding a fair count. Maduro’s government responded with a crackdown, resulting in over 2,400 arrests and at least 24 deaths.
In addition, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 16 of Maduro’s allies, including members of the electoral council and Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice, for blocking voting processes and committing human rights abuses.
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