Venezuela arrests 6 foreigners, including 3 Americans, allegedly involved in plot to kill president

U.S. officials have denied any involvement in a plot to overthrow the president.

ByAicha El Hammar Castano and Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News KTRK logo
Monday, September 16, 2024
3 Americans arrested in alleged Maduro assassination plot
Venezuela arrested 6 foreigners, including 3 Americans, who were allegedly involved in a plot to kill President Nicolas Maduro.

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Three United States citizens were detained on suspicion of plotting to destabilize Venezuela, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on Saturday.

The Venezuelan government also said the U.S. government has links to this operation, with Cabello saying the arrested were Central Intelligence Agency agents.

"We can confirm the detention of a U.S. military member and are aware of unconfirmed reports of two additional U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela," a State Department spokesperson told ABC News.

"Any claims of U.S. involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false. The United States continues to support a democratic solution to the political crisis in Venezuela," the statement continued.

Two Spaniard citizens and a Czech national were arrested as well, according to the interior minister.