(Rightallegiance.com) – A U.S. Navy sailor, who is also a U.S. citizen, has been detained in Venezuela, according to four U.S. officials familiar with the situation. The service member was reportedly detained on August 30, 2024, in Caracas and is currently being held by the Venezuelan intelligence agency SEBIN, one of the officials disclosed.
A defense official informed CNN that they are aware of the reports regarding the detention of the sailor by Venezuelan authorities while he was on personal travel to the country. The official added, “The U.S. Navy is looking into this and working closely with the State Department. We refer you to the State Department for additional questions.” Another official noted that the sailor was not on official travel or approved leave, raising questions about the reasons behind his trip to Venezuela.
The State Department has also acknowledged the reports, with a spokesperson stating, “We are aware of reports of the detention of an individual in Venezuela.” However, the spokesperson declined to provide further details, saying, “We have no further information to share at this time.”
The State Department has long advised Americans against traveling to Venezuela, citing a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals. The department’s travel advisory for Venezuela warns, “Security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years.” It also highlights that the U.S. government is often not notified of such detentions or granted access to U.S. citizens held in Venezuelan prisons.
CNN has reached out to the Venezuelan government for comment but has yet to receive a response.
This detention occurs during a period of significant unrest in Venezuela. Tensions escalated after opposition leaders and multiple Latin American governments refused to recognize the July 2024 reelection of Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro. The disputed election sparked protests across the country, resulting in at least 11 deaths and the detention of hundreds of individuals.
In a related development, the U.S. recently seized Maduro’s airplane in the Dominican Republic, an action that has further strained relations between the two countries. A U.S. official described the seizure as a “message all the way to the top,” indicating the U.S.’s commitment to enforcing sanctions against Venezuela. “Seizing the foreign head of state’s plane is unheard-of for criminal matters. We’re sending a clear message here that no one is above the law, no one is above the reach of U.S. sanctions,” the official said.
The sailor’s detention comes nearly two years after the Biden administration successfully secured the release of nine Americans from Venezuela in 2022, including the “Citgo 6,” who had been detained for five years. In December 2023, the U.S. also negotiated the release of six wrongfully detained Americans and four other Americans held in Venezuela.