A U.S. Navy sailor is currently being held in Venezuela after traveling to the country without authorization for personal reasons, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday. According to two defense officials, the enlisted sailor was detained by Venezuelan law enforcement last week and has been in custody since around August 30.

The Pentagon stated in a press release that the U.S. Navy is actively investigating the incident and is closely coordinating with the State Department. Both officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, emphasized that the sailor was neither on official travel nor had obtained authorized leave to visit Venezuela.

While the State Department acknowledged the situation, spokesperson Matt Miller provided no further details or comments. However, the department assured that they are closely monitoring the case.

This recent detention follows a similar incident earlier this year when a U.S. Army soldier was arrested in Russia after traveling to visit his girlfriend. Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, is still serving his sentence of three years and nine months after his girlfriend accused him of theft.

It is worth noting that in December, the United States made a controversial exchange with Venezuela. A close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was released in return for the freedom of 10 Americans who were imprisoned in the South American country. The deal also included the return of a fugitive defense contractor known as "Fat Leonard," who was involved in a major Pentagon bribery scandal.

The U.S. authorities are now relying on the State Department to provide updates on the status of the detained sailor in Venezuela. As the investigation continues, details surrounding the unauthorized travel and the sailor's intentions for visiting the country remain undisclosed.