TeleSUR
The Venezuelan government announced the dismantling of a terrorist plan that, according to the evidence collected, has connections with the United States CIA and the National Intelligence Center of Spain.
Venezuela’s Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, revealed details of an intelligence operation that dismantled a plot to destabilize the country and attack high-ranking government officials.
In a public statement, Cabello reported the seizure of a batch of weapons including 400 rifles and pistols, which is part of an operation that also includes recruitment.
“The weapons, which originate in the United States, have been entering through apparently legal shipping routes.” He added that “they arrived in Venezuela in containers with products such as dog food, they came disassembled and were received here by groups who were responsible for assembling them,” said the minister, adding that the information was obtained through intelligence and tracking work.
The Vice President for Policy, Citizen Security and Peace of Venezuela also demanded that the US government “clarify the participation of its agencies” and the use of its territory for the alleged trafficking of arms destined to “attack a legitimate government like the Venezuelan one.”
Cabello explained that these actions are part of an effort to “attack leftist and progressive governments” in the region. According to the minister, the investigations reveal a plan to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and Cabello himself. “They have hired mercenaries from Eastern Europe, Americans, seeking to attack Venezuela,” he said, also implying the CIA’s links with several Venezuelan opponents in exile, including Iván Simonovis, Julio Borges and Carlos Vecchio, among others.
He revealed that one American soldier and two Spanish citizens were arrested. According to Cabello, these individuals are linked to activities that the Government considers as threats to national security.
American Wilber Joseph Castaneda has an extensive military record. Cabello provided details about his past: “He is American, since 2009 he is a Navy SEAL, in the US Navy… Imagine the level of the White House claiming him, he takes on the defense of Castaneda.”
The Venezuelan official detailed Castaneda’s military career: In 2009, he took an explosives expert course in Virginia, group N 04. Later, he took a N7 course in California. He completed training in river operations and urban combat. In 2010, he served for ten months in the war in Afghanistan. Then, he spent six months in Iraq. More recently, Castaneda had been in Colombia. He specified that the Spanish citizens are named José María Basoa and Andrés Martínez and were detained in the border city of Puerto Ayacucho, capital of the state of Amazonas (south). Cabello stated that these individuals allegedly have connections with the National Intelligence Center of Spain. In addition, he pointed out that they maintain links with leaders of the opposition party Vente Venezuela, led by María Corina Machado.
He pointed out that another person arrested is Yorman Varillas, a Venezuelan citizen accused of having committed a murder in the state of Zulia, who has fled to the United States. According to Cabello, Varillas is “related to the explosives” and is currently “captured, in custody.”
Plan against the Argentine embassy in Caracas
Cabello mentioned the arrest of several people linked to these alleged destabilization actions, including individuals who stored groups of 10 to 12 rifles in their homes. He also revealed a frustrated plan to throw grenades at the Argentine embassy in Caracas, where some Venezuelan opposition members are sheltering.
The minister also pointed out connections between the seized weapons and criminal groups known as the Tren del Llano and the Tren de Aragua, whose “pranes” are linked to foreign intervention plans along with political figures from the Venezuelan opposition. He specifically mentioned Gilbert Caro and María Corina Machado as being involved in these networks.
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