Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro declared the arrest of a group of foreign nationals he referred to as “mercenaries,” including some citizens from Colombia and the United States, alleged conspirators to sabotage his inauguration.
On Tuesday, Maduro said that this group was planning “terrorist acts” in the run-up to the inauguration ceremony scheduled for Friday. He identified the detainees as two Colombian “hitmen,” three individuals linked to the war in Ukraine, and two Americans, labeling them as “very high level” without offering further details or evidence.
During a state television broadcast, Maduro stated, “Just today, we’ve captured seven foreign mercenaries, including two important mercenaries from the United States,” and announced a mass mobilization of police and military throughout the nation. He expressed confidence that the detainees would soon confess to their plans.
The arrests were made in undisclosed locations in Venezuela, and Maduro said that a total of 125 foreign mercenaries from 25 different countries had been apprehended, claiming they entered the country to engage in acts of terrorism against the Venezuelan people.
The U.S. Department of State nor the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs made immediate comment about the incident. Maduro, in power since 2013, has been repeatedly accused of orchestrating U.S.-backed plots against him.
In late 2023, Venezuela freed a large number of prisoners, among them 10 Americans, after lengthy negotiations with Washington, which had freed one of Maduro’s closest associates, Colombian businessman Alex Saab.
The arrests followed U.S. President Joe Biden’s meeting with exiled Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmudo Gonzalez Urrutia, amidst reports of Gonzalez Urrutia’s son-in-law being abducted in Caracas. During their discussion, Biden reiterated support for a “peaceful transfer back to democratic rule” in Venezuela, cautioning against further repression.
Several governments, including the United States, recognize Gonzalez Urrutia as president-elect, but he is also campaigning for international support. Washington and most of Venezuela’s democratic neighbors assert that he won the July presidential election by a clear margin and charge that the official results were tampered with.
In response, the opposition has mobilized calls for “millions” of Venezuelans to protest on Thursday to thwart Maduro’s retention of power and his formal swearing-in. However, the opposition faces significant challenges, as Maduro, alongside his predecessor Hugo Chavez, has maintained control over Venezuela for nearly 25 years, successfully navigating waves of international and domestic pressure through a blend of populist appeal, disputed elections, and the strength of military and paramilitary forces.
