An unidentified US citizen was detained by Venezuelan authorities when he was trying to enter “clandestinely” through the land border he shares with Colombia, Deputy Diosdado Cabello, considered number two in Chavismo, reported Monday.
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“This week he was captured in Táchira state [oeste] a US citizen trying to enter Venezuela (…) clandestinely“, said Cabello at the press conference of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), of which he is vice president.
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“That does not come to anything good, it does not come to anything good, he has his plans against our country. We alert on this issue,” national security continued. The powerful Chavista leader did not reveal the identity of the detainee or the place of detention. He also did not report on the crimes he is accused of.
Venezuelan authorities arrested Cuban-American Jorge Alberto Fernández in February 2021, who remained in jail until March of this year when he was released after a surprise meeting between senior officials of the Joe Biden government and President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. .
Fernández was arrested as he entered the country through the border state of Táchira and was charged with “terrorism.” According to the NGO Coalition for Human Rights, which denounced the case, the Cuban-American was arrested “for carrying a drone.”
Fernández alleged that he was doing tourism in Venezuela and that he was intercepted by the military at a checkpoint. Another American, ex-Marine Matthew Heath, is also being held on charges of “terrorism”.“for allegedly planning attacks on oil and power facilities.
Five former directors of the Citgo oil company, four Americans and another with permanent residence, also remain behind bars. Washington demands the release of all.
President Nicolás Maduro and his entourage frequently accuse the United States of planning attacks against him, including assassinations.
Maduro broke relations with the United States in 2019 after Washington rejected his re-election as fraudulent and recognized the opposition Juan Guaidó as interim president.
AFP
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