Venezuelan authorities arrested 125 foreign nationals, including an Israeli citizen, allegedly involved in "a conspiracy to destabilise the country" and overthrow President Nicolás Maduro's government.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello accused the suspects of being "mercenaries" hired by "external forces" ahead of Maduro's planned inauguration for a new six-year term on 10 January.
Among those detained, he said, were nationals from 16 countries, including Israel, the US, Ukraine, Lebanon, Yemen, Albania, Guyana, Peru, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Uruguay.
Venezuelan officials claimed the operation was part of an ongoing effort to thwart what they describe as "US-backed destabilisation attempts".
During a press briefing on Monday, Cabello said the Venezuelan authorities seized firearms during the raids but refused to reveal specific actions the suspects were allegedly involved in.
The arrested individuals have been accused of having links to opposition groups and providing critical information about the funding and operational support behind their activities.
During the address, Cabello accused former Colombian Presidents Álvaro Uribe and Iván Duque of supporting these "destabilisation efforts", linking them to Colombian narcotrafficking networks.
He also alleged that María Corina Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader, had received financial backing from these illicit sources in a bid to drive the country into chaos.
The arrests come amid growing political tensions in Venezuela as the country prepares for Maduro’s third consecutive term.
The opposition, led by figures like Edmundo González Urrutia, claimed victory in the disputed 28 July elections, alleging widespread fraud. The international community remains divided, with many countries refusing to recognise Maduro's victory.
Rising political tensions
As Venezuela braces for another tense presidential term, Cabello announced heightened security measures, particularly in the capital, Caracas.
Thousands of military personnel and intelligence officers have been deployed in and around key government buildings, including the Legislative Palace and Miraflores Palace, where Maduro’s inauguration will take place.
Cabello's rhetoric suggests that the Venezuelan government is anticipating unrest from the opposition in the coming days.
"Some sectors of the opposition are nervous because of the increased security measures around the capital," he said. "These actions are to protect Venezuela’s democracy in the face of threats from destabilising forces."
Venezuelan authorities have intensified their efforts to clamp down on opposition leaders, including issuing an arrest warrant for González Urrutia, who remains in exile and has garnered international support for his claims of electoral fraud.
While the Venezuelan government portrays these arrests as crucial for national security, analysts suggest that the detentions may also serve as leverage in the country's tense relations with the US and other Western powers.
The Maduro regime has historically used the detention of foreign nationals as a means of negotiating political concessions. In a previous exchange, the US and Venezuela agreed to a prisoner swap involving several American detainees in return for the release of Alex Saab, a close ally of Maduro.