Title: Venezuelan Regime Detains Eight U.S. Citizens Amidst Terrorism and Magnicide Allegations
In a surprising turn of events, the Venezuelan regime has detained eight U.S. citizens in 2024, accusing them of planning acts of terrorism and magnicidio against Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking officials. This move comes despite promises made by the Venezuelan government to the Biden administration in December 2022, assuring that it would not detain any U.S. citizens for use as political pawns.
Minister of Interior, Diosdado Cabello, Announces Detentions
On October 17, 2024, Diosdado Cabello, the Minister of Interior, held a press conference where he officially announced the detention of 19 foreigners, including 15 Venezuelans, accused of planning terrorist acts and magnicide against Nicolás Maduro. However, it was later revealed that these foreigners had been detained between September and October, and were subjected to enforced disappearance for over a month.
U.S. Citizens Detained and Accused
Among the detained foreigners, 14 were identified as U.S. citizens. The Venezuelan government has accused these individuals of being part of a conspiracy involving María Corina Machado, the leader of the Venezuelan opposition. The regime has also implicated former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe Vélez and other Venezuelan political figures, such as Iván Simonovis, Julio Borges, Carlos Vecchio, and Juan Pablo Guanipa.
The Venezuelan government has alleged the involvement of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Spain’s National Intelligence Center (CNI) in these supposed conspiracies.
Details of the Detained U.S. Citizens
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Wilbert Joseph Castañeda Gómez: A U.S. Navy SEAL detained in Aragua, accused of planning to assassinate Diosdado Cabello and other high-ranking officials. He is alleged to be a specialist in explosives and has ties to a Venezuelan woman, Deisy Jugles González, also detained.
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Jonathan Pagan González: A Puerto Rican man detained in Zulia, accused of infiltrating religious groups to further the regime’s destabilization plans. He is alleged to have confessed to his involvement in the plot and provided details about his accomplices.
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David Estrella: An Ecuadorian-American man detained in Venezuela, with limited information available. His U.S. passport number is Nr. 677402359.
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Jorge Marcelo Vargas: A dual U.S.-Bolivian citizen detained for taking photographs of oil installations in Carabobo and Falcón states.
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Aaron Barret Logan: An American man detained alongside his Venezuelan partner, Astrid Emperatriz Ortega, accused of being hackers involved in cyber sabotage against Venezuela’s infrastructure.
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Gregory David Werber: A U.S. citizen detained and accused of being a hacker involved in cyber sabotage. A man with the same name was previously convicted in the U.S. for money laundering related to a Mexican drug cartel.
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David Gutenberg Guillaume: A paramedic detained for allegedly providing medical assistance during terrorist activities.
- Fabián Buglione Reyes: A 48-year-old Uruguayan man residing in the U.S., detained in Venezuela after starting a relationship with a Venezuelan woman, Margelis Piña. His family has reported him missing, and the Uruguayan government has issued a travel advisory for Venezuela.
The Venezuelan regime’s actions have raised concerns about the safety of U.S. citizens traveling to Venezuela and the potential for further diplomatic tensions between the two countries. As the situation unfolds, it is essential to monitor developments and provide updates as needed.
