Venezuelan Authorities Arrest Colombian Paramilitary Chief Allegedly Sent To Assassinate Maduro

24.03.2019

On March 23rd, Venezuelans took to the streets in an “anti-imperialist march,” marking 1 month of the failure to enter US humanitarian aid into the country.

During the address, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro spoke about the arrest of a Colombian paramilitary chief with alleged links to US-Proclaimed President Juan Guaido.

“We have captured the head of the Rastrojos gang in Carabobo state and he is giving testimony… about who hired him and why he was brought to Venezuela,” Maduro said.

He also said that the arrest was thanks to Guaido’s chief of staff Roberto Marrero tipping off the authorities about the alleged paramilitary boss, leading to his arrest.

He accused Guaido, who he called a “diabolic puppet” of wanting to organize his assassination.

“The American imperialism wants to assassinate me. We have just foiled a plot that the diabolic puppet personally directed to kill me. We have proof, but they could not prevail,” he said.

In his address, Maduro also called on Trump to “end his obsession with conquering Venezuela.”

“Journalists of the world please tell the truth because the Venezuelan people have the right to peace, calm and independence.”

Regarding the alleged terrorist cell arrest, Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said in a televised address that the plot involved smuggling Central American hitmen into Venezuela.

He showed screen grabs of cell phone conversations that he said are proof Marrero was orchestrating the hitmen’s payment.

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“The conversations found on Marrero’s phone show that he conspired with Guaidó to manage financing of terrorist acts,” Rodríguez said.

He stressed that the plan was between 8 and 10 teams of approximately 6 to 8 PMCs to enter Venezuela, which had the objective of carrying out a series of “terrorist acts”, highlighting “selective killings” and “assault on the Miraflores Palace.”

“Assassins and paramilitaries have been recruited using large amounts of money so that they can be sent to Colombia to receive training,” Rodriguez said. “Marrero was involved in contracting people from Guatemala and Colombia to comply with the recruitment and training plan for assassins.”

“On previous report we reported that he was captured paramilitary chief of Colombia’s most Wanted: Wilfrido Torres Gómez, aka Neco. He Is One of the chiefs of Assassins entered through the far right from Colombia. Requested with code blue x Interpol x Homicide and killings.”

Separately, according to Bloomberg, Maduro is feeling the pressure of US sanctions and vowed to undertake a major change in the Venezuelan government.

“I will in the coming hours announce new government methods and a profound change in the entire government of Venezuela,” Maduro said in a speech at a political rally broadcast on state television. “We need to renew ourselves, refresh, improve, change.”

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Meanwhile, the US-Proclaimed President Juan Guaido is trying to gather supporters from more countries. For the first time on March 23rd he spoke to officials from Caribbean countries, which would also explain why US National Security Adviser John Bolton has been praising them and expressing their support.

“Today we participate for the first time in a meeting with Caricom And Caribbean countries where we express our vision of the crisis In Venezuela and our route. In The new Venezuela we will have the best relationship with the Caribbean for the benefit of our region”

Guaido continuous showing pictures of organizing rally, but the loss of steam is becoming more and more apparent.

A New York Times report claimed that Guaido said Nicolas Maduro is in his “final phase.” According to the US-Proclaimed Interim President, opposition members had spoke to high-ranking military members about changing sides.

Published at https://southfront.org/venezuelan-authorities-arrest-colombian-paramilitary-chief-allegedly-sent-to-assassinate-maduro/