In a recent development, the Navy has released the service details of a sailor who has been detained by Venezuelan authorities since the end of August. Wilbert Joseph Castaneda, a petty officer first class and Navy SEAL, is believed to be part of an alleged plot to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro and overthrow his regime. According to the Navy records, Castaneda has been in service since 2007.

Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed that Castaneda, along with three other Americans, two Spanish citizens, and one Czech citizen, were arrested in connection with the assassination plot. Cabello provided images of confiscated rifles, alleging their involvement in a CIA-led conspiracy to topple the Venezuelan government. However, U.S. officials have refuted these claims, finding discrepancies in some of Cabello's statements about Castaneda.

This incident further intensifies the already tense situation in Venezuela, following the disputed election between Maduro and Edmundo González in July. Several countries have expressed concerns over electoral fraud allegations. The State and Defense departments have emphasized that the United States has no plans to overthrow Maduro and continues to support a democratic resolution to the political crisis.

The State Department spokesperson also confirmed awareness of unconfirmed reports regarding the detention of two additional U.S. citizens in Venezuela. Castaneda's records reveal that he first became detained on August 30, and subsequent reports suggested that he was not on official travel or approved leave at the time. Castaneda has also been reportedly stripped of his Special Warfare insignia, indicating the possible removal from the elite Navy SEAL community.

Contrary to Cabello's claims, the Navy records do not show evidence of Castaneda's deployment to Afghanistan, Iraq, or Colombia. However, his service history includes multiple deployments, reflected by four Sea Service Deployment ribbons, two Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medals, and an Armed Forces Service Medal. Notably, his records do not indicate any combat or valor awards, although he did receive three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.

The allegation that Castaneda and the other detainees were involved in a plot to overthrow Maduro may not be entirely unfounded. In 2020, a former U.S. Green Beret, Jordan Goudreau, had helped train and arm approximately 300 Venezuelan army deserters in Colombia for a failed rebellion against Maduro. The repercussions resulted in casualties and the arrest of Goudreau and two of his compatriots.

The situation in Venezuela remains precarious for Americans, especially with the increasing sanctions against Maduro's allies imposed by the U.S. State. The Department continues to caution American citizens against traveling to Venezuela due to the high risk of wrongful detention. Furthermore, U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela are often not notified to or granted access by U.S. authorities.

It is important to note that last year, the Biden administration facilitated a deal in which Maduro released ten Americans in exchange for a presidential pardon for Alex Saab, who was held on money laundering charges and allegedly helping Maduro evade U.S. sanctions. As developments unfold, the fate of Wilbert Joseph Castaneda and the alleged assassination plot remains uncertain.