Fifteen people, including two Americans, were arrested in two days for a failed attempt "invasion" by sea of ​​Venezuela, said Monday, May 4, President of the country Nicolas Maduro.

Speaking in a television address, the socialist leader described the two American nationals as employees of Silvercorp, a Florida-based security company whose boss claimed responsibility for the attempted raid.

Jordan Goudreau told Reuters earlier Monday that two American nationals working alongside him were detained by Venezuelan authorities. "These are my guys," the former US soldier said by telephone, adding that they were Aaron Berry and Luke Denman.

Washington rejects involvement

On Sunday, the Venezuelan government announced that mercenaries had attempted to enter the country via fast boats from Colombia, denouncing a maneuver supported by the United States.

Jordan Goudreau then published a video in which he claimed to have organized an incursion in collaboration with a dissident officer of the Venezuelan army, Javier Nieto, and that combatants on the ground continued to conduct operations in different points of Venezuela.

Representatives of the American administration had previously rejected any involvement of the government in the incursion denounced by Caracas.

Juan Guaido accused

Opposition leader Juan Guaido has questioned the government's accusations, stressing that Nicolas Maduro was looking to look away when events have bloodied Caracas in recent days - a murderous prison riot and gang clashes criminals.

Juan Guaido's communications team denied press reports that the leader of the opposition had called on Silvercorp to oust Nicolas Maduro from power.

With Reuters and AFP

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