The Vice President of the Policy, Citizen Security and Peace Sector, Diosdado Cabelloreported this Saturday on the arrest of 14 people, mercenaries linked to a plan to commit terrorist actions.
In a press conference, the Minister for Internal Affairs, Justice and Peace explained that for some time now there have been groups around the world offering to supposedly “liberate” Venezuela, but “they never act alone. Behind these groups operate intelligence agencies from other countries.”
“Today we have captured, under the control of the national government and in custody, being interrogated, complying with what other countries do not comply with, respect for human rights, mercenary citizens who have come to Venezuela as part of this plan,” he said.
Cabello said that two Spanish citizens, identified as José María Basoa Valdovinos and Andrés Martínez Adasme, were recently detained near the airport in Puerto Ayacucho.
“An irregular situation, taking photos. As soon as they were captured, we found links on their phones to a woman named María Teresa Clavijo, leader of Vente Venezuela in the state of Aragua, linked to the so-called comanditos; to Mr. Yorman Enrique Barillas,” he added, and mentioned other people involved.
He said that the two Spaniards made contact by telephone to find out how they could buy explosives and look for groups “who wanted to do some special work,” and in direct communication they planned the murder of the mayor of Upata.
“There are direct links with Mr. Américo de Grazia and Carlos Chancellor,” he said.
The minister commented that the two Spanish citizens have links with the National Intelligence Centre of Spain. “These gentlemen of Spanish origin are detained, giving statements, reporting (…) The task they came to do in Venezuela is very clear there,” he said.
Cabello also reported the arrest of a Czech citizen, whose phone was found to have links to people such as Barillas y Clavijo, Wilber Joseph Castañeda, among others. US citizens were also arrested.
The minister clarified that Castañeda has been a member of the United States Navy SEAL corps since 2009, which are special air, sea and land operators of the United States Navy.
“It is the White House that takes on the defense of this man and immediately they say that ‘he was surely walking around without permission’. It is normal for them to say that (…) Active military“He said and gave details of the official’s career, having knowledge in various areas and having been in wars such as Afghanistan and Iraq. Castañeda made contacts to communicate with the Aragua Train, he added.
American citizens David Estrella and Aaron Barren Logan are also joining the group, the latter with his Venezuelan partner, Astrid Emperatriz Ortega.
Cabello said they had more information about the case, indicating that those captured have spoken about “a group of mercenaries who are looking to bring them to Venezuela with very clear objectives: to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, myself and another group of colleagues who are leaders of our party and our Revolution. They have contacted French and Eastern European mercenaries.”
“They are carrying out an operation to try to attack our country,” he stressed.
