Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced the arrest of seven foreign individuals, including Colombian and United States citizens, accusing them of plotting “terrorist acts” to disrupt his upcoming inauguration ceremony. The arrests come just days before Maduro is set to take office for a third term following last July’s controversial election.
In a televised address on Tuesday, Maduro alleged that the group included two Colombian “hitmen,” three “mercenaries” with ties to the war in Ukraine, and two “very high-level” US citizens. While Maduro did not provide concrete evidence, he expressed confidence that the detainees would confess under interrogation.
“Just today, we’ve captured seven foreign mercenaries, including two important mercenaries from the United States,” Maduro said. He added that a broader police and military deployment had been initiated to safeguard the country.
Maduro further claimed that security forces had arrested a total of 125 foreign mercenaries from 25 countries in recent months, accusing them of entering Venezuela to engage in “terrorism against the Venezuelan people.” Details about the identities, alleged plots, or locations of the arrests remain unclear.
These allegations follow a pattern of accusations from Maduro, who has frequently pointed to US-led conspiracies as threats to his rule. Neither the US State Department nor Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commented on these latest claims.
The arrests come amid rising tensions between Venezuela and the United States. Hours before Maduro’s announcement, US President Joe Biden met with Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, an exiled Venezuelan opposition leader recognised by several nations as the rightful winner of the July presidential election.
During the meeting, Biden expressed support for a “peaceful transfer back to democratic rule” in Venezuela and condemned ongoing repression. The encounter followed reports of Gonzalez Urrutia’s son-in-law being abducted in Caracas, a move opposition figures have denounced as political retaliation.
Gonzalez Urrutia has been touring the region to rally international backing, asserting that he won the presidential election by a landslide. The opposition leader has called for mass protests on Thursday to challenge Maduro’s inauguration, urging millions of Venezuelans to take to the streets.
Maduro, who has governed Venezuela since 2013 after the death of his predecessor Hugo Chavez, has weathered numerous challenges to his authority over the years. Together, Chavez and Maduro have ruled Venezuela for 25 years, maintaining power through populist policies, contested elections, and control over the military and security forces.
Despite international condemnation, Maduro has consistently thwarted efforts to remove him, including waves of sanctions and diplomatic isolation. His government’s recent release of American prisoners in exchange for Colombian businessman Alex Saab suggests complex negotiations with Washington remain ongoing.
As the opposition gears up for Thursday’s protests, it faces daunting obstacles in challenging Maduro’s entrenched authority. Whether these arrests of alleged “mercenaries” further rally Maduro’s supporters or deepen international skepticism about his government’s legitimacy remains to be seen.
Chioma Kalu
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