Diosdado Cabello announces the capture of a group of alleged mercenaries

The Minister of the Interior of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, said this Thursday that there are 19 foreign “mercenaries” detained in the last month for their alleged connection with plans to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro after the controversial elections of July 28.

Without offering details about the dates, Cabello referred to “the capture of a new group of mercenaries” whom he linked to the governments of Spain and the United States. “Here comes the CNI (Spanish National Intelligence Center) with the direction of the entire operation, the CIA, the DEA, the United States government,” he said.

Cabello denounces alleged plan against Maduro

Among those arrested are Americans Gregory David Weber, whom the Venezuelan government links to hacking operations against state institutions, as well as paramedic David Gutenberg Guillaume, who according to Cabello had the mission of “providing aid in case of injuries in terrorist activities.”

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🗣️ ANNOUNCES THE “CAPTURE OF A NEW GROUP OF MERCENARIES”

Diosdado Cabello announced the capture of a “new group of mercenaries” and the seizure of 71 weapons of war in different operations

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— ImpactoVenezuela (@ImpactoVE) October 17, 2024

Jonathan Pagan González, another American, “was detained in Zulia.” He is accused of seeking to “attack” Maduro and other high officials.

He also identified Jorge Marcelo Vargas, of American and Bolivian nationality, who, he assured, was captured taking photos at refineries in the country. In the group there are also “several Colombians”, a Peruvian and a Lebanese.

“The plan is the overthrow of the Bolivarian revolution,” he noted in reference to Maduro’s re-election for a third consecutive term amid allegations of fraud by the opposition.

Detainees linked to arms trafficking

The detainees are also linked to arms trafficking from the United States. So far there are more than 500 weapons confiscated.

Cabello had already announced on September 14 the arrest of three American citizens, two Spaniards and a Czech.

On that occasion he identified the detainees as Wilbert Josep Castañeda, “active military” of the United States and “head” of the plan, and two other Americans, David Estrella and Aaron Barren Logan, as well as the Spaniards José María Basoa and Andrés Martínez Adasme.

Two days later the arrest of a fourth American was confirmed.

“The Americans detained in Venezuela are very well, they are better than those in Guantánamo (…) all these foreign citizens have their rights respected,” Cabello said this Thursday.

The Venezuelan government usually denounces “terrorist” plans to force the departure of Maduro, whose re-election sparked protests that left 27 dead and more than 2,400 detained.