(WASHINGTON) — The Pentagon is aware of reports Wednesday that an American service member was recently detained in Venezuela, a U.S. official told ABC News.
The Department of Defense is “working closely” with the State Department on the matter, according to a statement from the official.
“We are aware of reports that U.S. Navy Sailor was detained on or about August 30, 2024, by Venezuelan law enforcement authorities while on personal travel to Venezuela. 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,” the U.S. defense official told ABC News.
On Thursday, a Venezuelan Justice Ministry spokesperson told ABC News that a U.S.-Mexican dual national was arrested by Venezuelan authorities on Aug. 30 because authorities believe he was part of a plot to attack Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This individual is the reported U.S. sailor who was detained, according to the spokesperson.
The aim of the alleged plot was to “destabilize the country,” the Venezuelan Justice Ministry spokesperson said.
The Venezuelan government has been in communication with the U.S. government regarding the individual, who had no documentation to be in the country, the Venezuelan Justice Ministry spokesperson said.
The U.S. Navy believes the sailor was detained by Venezuelan law enforcement on or around Aug. 30, another U.S. defense official confirmed to ABC News.
The sailor is based on the West Coast and was not on authorized travel to Venezuela, according to the official.
The news was first reported by CNN.
At a State Department briefing on Wednesday, spokesperson Matthew Miller said U.S. officials were gathering information about the detention of an American service member in Venezuela.
“We are tracking closely the detention of a U.S. military member in Venezuela. We are closely monitoring the situation, seeking additional information. I don’t have further comment at this time,” Miller said, citing “privacy considerations.”
ABC News’ Aicha Elhammar and Shannon Kingston contributed to this report.
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