Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced Tuesday the arrest of two U.S. citizens, whom he described as “high-level mercenaries,” among a group of seven alleged foreign operatives. The arrests come just days before Maduro’s controversial inauguration for a third term following a disputed election in July.
“Today, we captured seven foreign mercenaries, including two important mercenaries from the United States,” Maduro said during remarks at the Miraflores presidential palace. He did not provide additional evidence or details regarding the detainees.
The group also reportedly includes two Colombians and three individuals whom Maduro claimed were veterans of the conflict in Ukraine. Their exact locations of capture and other details remain undisclosed.
The U.S. State Department and Colombia’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Human rights groups in Venezuela have raised concerns about a recurring pattern of arrests, including detentions of foreign nationals. These developments follow the late-2023 release of dozens of prisoners, including 10 Americans, as part of a negotiated exchange between Caracas and Washington. In the same period, the U.S. released Colombian businessman Alex Saab, a close Maduro ally.
Maduro claimed that Venezuelan authorities have detained 125 “foreign mercenaries” from 25 countries in recent years, accusing them of engaging in terrorism against the Venezuelan population.
The arrests coincide with opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez’s efforts to rally international support. Gonzalez, who has been recognized as the winner of the July election by the U.S. and several regional governments, is touring the region to solidify backing.
Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated support for Gonzalez on Monday, calling him the “true winner” of the election.
While Venezuela’s government-controlled electoral authority and Supreme Court declared Maduro the victor, they have yet to release detailed election data. Meanwhile, the opposition has shared thousands of voting receipts, allegedly accounting for over 80% of the vote and indicating a significant Gonzalez victory.
