US Navy SEAL Detained in Venezuela along with Confiscated Weapons
Venezuelan Drama Unfolds: US Navy SEAL, Spanish Citizens Arrested for Alleged Assassination Plot
September 16, 2024 - Mexico City, Mexico (our website) - In a shocking turn of events, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced the arrest of a US Navy SEAL, Wilbert Joseph Castaneda, alongside two Spanish citizens, under accusations of plotting to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking officials. At a rambunctious press conference held at the ministry's headquarters, Cabello laid out the damning allegations.
In front of a showcase of the seized firearms linked to the reported scheme, Cabello labeled Castaneda as the "head of the operation, placed here by the CIA." Castaneda, an active duty US sailor with close to 20 years of service, had been reported arrested earlier this month. The White House Spokesperson, John Kirby, had previously denied his visit to Venezuela on official business, citing personal reasons as his motive.
According to Cabello, the alleged assassination plot was uncovered after authorities received a tip about an illicit weapons shipment from the US. The weapons were secretly smuggled into Venezuela, disguised within containers to be assembled once landed. The US, Cabello claims, stands behind this operation, supplying the firearms and allowing them to circulate within the country with free rein.
The discussion taketh no prisoners as Cabello accused the conspiracy of targeting not only the president but also Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and the minister himself, along with an attempt to sabotage public infrastructure such as water supplies, electricity, and transportation. The conspirators aimed to create chaos within the country, taking advantage of its existing unrest.
Beyond Castaneda, Cabello also announced the arrest of several others: two Spanish citizens, José María Basoa Valdovinos and Andrés Martínez Adasme, who allegedly had ties to Spain's National Intelligence Center; two US citizens, David Estrella and Aaron Barrett Logan, held on charges of being "hackers"; and a Czech individual named Jan Darmovzal who, according to Cabello, was brought in as a mercenary.
In response, the US State Department has issued a statement dismissing the allegations as "categorically false." However, Cabello interpreted their silence as a tacit admission of guilt and demanded that the US government address these accusations and clarify their role in the weapon smuggling, hoping to overthrow a foreign government.
Cabello shared images of conversations, reportedly from a messaging application between Castaneda and another individual, "El Flaco," discussing a violent coup during election night to assassinate Maduro. The US currently faces accusations of allowing their territory to be used to arm radical groups and is compared unfavorably to past paramilitary actions such as "Operation Gideon."
Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Lisbon, Portugal.
Extra Facts:- Current information suggests limited details regarding the investigation into Castaneda by Venezuelan authorities due to the strained relationship between the US and Venezuela and the lack of transparency surrounding the hostages’ conditions. The U.S. State Department has designated Castaneda as a hostage, not legally detained.- Castaneda is one of several American hostages in Venezuela, facing financial challenges for his family due to his captivity. Efforts to secure his release have been unsuccessful so far.
The Venezuelan Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, has accused Gideon, allegedly represented by a US Navy SEAL named Wilbert Joseph Castaneda, of an operation aimed atAssasination of President Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking officials in 2024, with the alleged support of war-and-conflicts politics and crime-and-justice entities. Cabello also announced the arrest of several other individuals, including two Spanish citizens and two US citizens, in connection to the plot. The US State Department, however, dismissed these allegations, while General News outlets continue to discuss the Venezuelan drama, highlighting the strained relationship between the US and Venezuela, and the ongoing investigation into the alleged assassination plot. The case has also raised concerns about politics, war-and-conflicts, and crime-and-justice, particularly in light of past paramilitary actions such as "Operation Gideon."
