A retired U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agent, Edwin Lopez, attempted for 16 months to recruit the pilot of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, General Bitner Villegas, to divert the presidential jet for a U.S. arrest. According to a report by the Associated Press, the covert operation involved encrypted messages and secret meetings.
The plan ultimately failed when Villegas rejected the proposal and publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to Maduro during a state television broadcast. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and the Venezuelan government.
For related coverage on international military actions, see recent developments regarding airstrikes in the region.
