Venezuela arrests 2 US citizens suspected of involvement in beach landing
Venezuelan authorities have arrested 13 people, including two US citizens working with another US veteran who has claimed responsibility for the failed landing on Venezuela's coast.
In a televised address, Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro said 13 “terrorists” had been arrested on May 4 on suspicion of involvement in the previous day’s landing, which he accused of being coordinated by Washington.
Earlier, on May 3, the Venezuelan government said it had defeated a landing on the coast near the capital Caracas - one of the most heavily guarded areas in the country. Eight people were killed in the incident.
Speaking on television, Mr. Maduro showed two US passports and other identification documents belonging to Airan Berry and Luke Denman. He said the two men were detained for collaborating with US veteran Jordan Goudreau, who owns the security company Silvercorp USA based in the state of Florida, USA.
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Masked Venezuelan soldiers escort a suspect from a helicopter, related to the landing on the morning of May 3. Photo:Venezuelan Government/Reuters. |
The Venezuelan president added that the country's government had discovered the landing plot in advance.
US veteran Goudreau, who had previously claimed responsibility for the landing, confirmed toReuterson May 4 that the two American citizens, Berry and Denman, were his people.
“They work for me. Those are my people,” Mr. Goudreau toldReuters.
The US State Department has not yet responded to the arrest of two US citizens, while US officials toldReuters CThe US government is not involved in the incident.
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Venezuelan authorities said a group of “mercenary terrorists” attempted to enter the country from Colombia by speedboat. Photo:Venezuelan Government/Reuters |
A source familiar with the matter toldReutersTwo US citizens were arrested on May 4, as Venezuelan authorities continued to hunt for accomplices, entering a second day.
The two men are believed to be detained by Venezuelan military intelligence, the source told Reuters.Reuters, taking information from other sources in Venezuelan security.
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Two US citizens are believed to be detained by Venezuelan military intelligence. Photo:Venezuelan Government/Reuters |
The landing took place early on the morning of May 3. Venezuelan authorities said that the group of “terrorist mercenaries” tried to enter the country from Colombia by speedboat, and eight people were killed.
Later that day, Mr. Goudreau, a former US Army Green Beret, released a video saying he was behind the invasion, standing next to Venezuelan military official Javier Nieto, who has since defected from the government.
Mr. Goudreau also said there are still people inside Venezuela and their campaign continues.
ReutersCiting two unnamed US officials, including one with knowledge of US intelligence, said US government agencies had nothing to do with the landing in Venezuela.
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