Venezuela thwarts terrorist plans linked to the far right and accuses the US government of involvement.
Authorities dismantle threats in Caracas and Maturín; María Corina Machado is identified as the leader of the conspiracies.
247 - Venezuela announced last Saturday (9) that it had managed to dismantle two terrorist threats considered to be of a high level. The information was released by the Ministry of Interior, Justice and Peace and confirmed by Minister Diosdado Cabello. According to a report by Telesur, the coordinated actions resulted in the seizure of heavy weaponry, explosives and the arrest of dozens of suspects linked to the far-right opposition and foreign actors.
One of the most elaborate attempts was thwarted on June 23, when an explosive device was to be detonated in Plaza Venezuela, Caracas, at 11:32 a.m. (local time). The target was the Monument to the Victory of the Great Patriotic War against Nazism, a place of great symbolic value and intense circulation of people and vehicles.
According to authorities, the device consisted of three kilograms of TNT hidden in a backpack. The remote activation method used an analog cell phone, designed to evade digital networks and hinder immediate tracking.
The investigation identified José Daniel García Ortega as the main executor of the plan, hired for US$20 to plant the explosive. Thanks to information leaked by figures within the opposition itself, Venezuelan intelligence monitored García Ortega's movements, deactivated the bomb before it exploded, and arrested him in the state of Táchira as he attempted to flee to Colombia.
So far, 13 people have been arrested for involvement in the plot, including “El Titi,” a Colombian citizen and member of the La Guajira Cartel. According to the government, these groups have links to Colombian drug trafficking and the Albanian-Ecuadorian mafia.
Operation in Maturín
On August 9, Cabello also announced the neutralization of a logistics base in Maturín, in the eastern state of Monagas. In total, 21 suspects were arrested.
According to the minister, the dismantled structure was prepared to coordinate attacks with explosives against strategic infrastructure, such as energy, transportation, and communications. The arsenal included high-caliber ammunition and long-range rifles, which would indicate an intention to carry out prolonged operations or even to occupy specific areas.
Cabello was categorical in pointing out those responsible: "These conspiracies are linked to the far-right opposition and are always, always directed by the United States government," he declared.
He directly accused far-right leader María Corina Machado of orchestrating the plots, organizing clandestine violent units with the support of extremist sectors linked to the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Authorities also stressed that drug trafficking and international gangs participate in this "global criminal ecosystem" which, according to the government, attempts to use Venezuela as a stage for political destabilization.
The Venezuelan government reiterated its commitment to combating organized crime and terrorism, emphasizing that anti-narcotics operations and intelligence actions will remain a priority to guarantee peace and security in the country in the face of internal and external threats.
