Venezuelan authorities have detained three US citizens, two Spaniards, and one Czech national on charges of plotting to destabilize the country. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed that the detainees were involved in a scheme to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking officials. The arrests come amid rising tensions between Venezuela, the United States, and Spain.

Cabello announced the seizure of hundreds of weapons as part of the operation. He alleged that the CIA was behind the plot, suggesting that the detained Spaniards were linked to Spain’s National Intelligence Centre (CNI). However, Spanish government sources have denied these claims, asserting that the detainees are not affiliated with the CNI. Cabello further accused the group of recruiting mercenaries to carry out attacks against Venezuelan leaders.

The US State Department has vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged plot. A spokesperson for the department described the accusations as “categorically false” and reaffirmed America’s commitment to supporting a democratic resolution to Venezuela’s political crisis. This denial comes in the wake of the US imposing sanctions on 16 Venezuelan officials in response to President Maduro’s contentious election victory.

The Spanish government has requested further information from Venezuelan authorities and access to its detained nationals. Cabello detailed that the Spaniards were apprehended in Puerto Ayacucho, south of Caracas, and suggested that they were involved in an operation that included contacting French and Eastern European mercenaries.

The arrests have intensified the diplomatic rift between Venezuela and Spain. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil recently summoned Spain’s ambassador in Caracas to protest remarks describing the Venezuelan government as a “dictatorship.” This confrontation follows recent sanctions by the US Treasury targeting Venezuelan officials over alleged election fraud and suppression of free expression. The Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Maduro the winner of the July presidential election, but the opposition has contested the results, claiming their candidate, Edmundo González, was victorious.