Venezuelan authorities have detained a fourth US citizen accused of plotting to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello disclosed the arrest Tuesday during a National Assembly session, alleging the CIA and Spain's intelligence agency were involved. Cabello's accusations tie the alleged plot to organized crime, opposition figures, and sex workers. He did not name the detained American but claimed the individual had photographed sensitive infrastructure and military units. "It is not the first time he has come to Venezuela," Cabello said of the man.
This plot is among many that the Maduro administration claims to have thwarted this year. The detention was revealed shortly after a UN-backed panel criticized Maduro's government for using violent repression post-July's controversial presidential election. Cabello previously announced the arrests of three Americans last Saturday, including Wilbert Joseph Castañeda Gomez, whom Cabello described as a Navy SEAL. The US Department of State has strongly denied any involvement in any Maduro-related plot. The election's legitimacy remains disputed, with opposition figures alleging fraud and claiming their candidate, Edmundo González, won twice the votes of Maduro. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)