Foreign mercenaries detained in Venezuela and accused of preparing a terrorist attack

8 January, 2025 Venezuelan National Guard at a checkpoint. Photo: insightcrime Venezuela has detained foreign mercenaries who, according to the country's newly elected president, were planning to commit a terrorist attack.

He announced this on television late in the evening of January 7, 2025. During his speech, Nicolas Maduro announced that foreign mercenaries from the war in Ukraine who were preparing a series of terrorist attacks had been detained in Venezuela. This announcement was made ahead of the leader's inauguration for a new term, which is scheduled to take place this week.

Military of Venezuela.

February 2024. Photo credits: @dhernandezlarez

"Just today, we captured seven foreign mercenaries, including two from the United States," Maduro said. He is currently preparing for his third inauguration, as he intends to take office for a third term.

The Venezuelan media did not publish any photos of the detainees or any other details of the operation, which could likely be part of Maduro's political campaign. He also added that the group of detainees includes two Colombians, who he said were captured in unspecified parts of Venezuela, as well as three others who came from the war in Ukraine.

Police officers during a security operation in Caracas in 2018. Photo credits: Fernando Llano

So far, neither the U.S.

Department of State nor the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given an official response or details about the detention of their citizens. Militarnyi previously reported that the Venezuelan authorities detained two Colombian citizens in Caracas and transferred them to Russia, which plans to try them. The sister of one of the detainees said that they had attracted the attention of Venezuelan police because they had been wearing Ukrainian military uniforms.

Alexander Arte and Jose Aron Medina were reportedly on their way home to Colombia with a stopover in Caracas.