Three Venezuelans, in possession of submachine guns and explosives, were arrested on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. According to the Colombian authorities, the three were planning to kill President Iván Duque.
The news was made known last December 29 with a video posted on Twitter by the foreign minister of Colombia, Carlos Holmes. In the short video, Holmes said Colombian intelligence services uncovered evidence of a "credible threat to life" or of President Duque, stating that the investigation into the alleged assassination operation, which began a few months ago, was conducted with collaboration. of "foreign intelligence agencies". Holmes, in the video, then urged Colombians to come forward with any information they have that might help investigations that are still ongoing.
On December 30, several Colombian newspapers reported that Holmes' Twitter warning was triggered after the arrest of two Venezuelans on December 21 in the northern city of Valledupar, Colombia. The two men, identified in media reports as Pedro José Acosta and José Vicente Gómez, both 22, were in possession of high-precision rifles.
The December 26, a Venezuelan third, identified in media reports as Geiger Vásquez, 35 years, was arrested in the town of Barranquilla while carrying a bag containing a Uzi submachine gun, as well as ammunition and several grenades.
According to some government officials, the attempt to kill President Duque may have been sponsored by left-wing rebel groups, such as the National Liberation Army (ELN), active on the Colombian-Venezuelan border.
Since taking over the Colombian presidency in August, Duque has led international efforts to impose sanctions on the Venezuelan leftist government of President Nicolas Maduro, who is about to begin his second term.
On Monday, the Venezuelan government said it had requested more information on the alleged murder plot by Colombian authorities and that it would provide Bogotá with "the necessary police and intelligence cooperation" to help investigate the allegations.