Interior Minister Nestor Reverol accused the aide, Roberto Marrero, a 49-year-old lawyer who serves as Guaido’s chief of staff, of leading a “terrorist cell” bent on attacking the government’s leadership with the help of Colombian and Central American as well as “acts of sabotage on public services to create chaos.”
He said weapons and foreign cash were found in a predawn raid on Marrero’s home.
He added that Marrero’s 34-year-old bodyguard, Luis Paez, was also arrested and faced the same charges and a search was on for “identified” other collaborators.
The development triggered alarm internationally. The United States, the European Union, and a grouping of Latin American nations plus Canada all denounced Marrero’s apprehension and demanded he be released immediately.
The United States has repeatedly warned Maduro’s government to not arrest Guaido or his close aides or it would face unspecified repercussions.
US President Donald Trump has reiterated he was considering “all options” at his disposal to see Maduro dislodged and Guaido installed in power, implying military action if he deemed it necessary.
A UN spokesman Thursday expressed “concern” at the arrest, urging “all actors in Venezuela to take immediate steps to lower tensions and refrain from any action that could lead to further escalation.”
‘Vulgar kidnapping’
The arrest was denounced earlier Thursday by Guaido as a “vile, vulgar kidnapping.” He said “we won’t be intimidated.”
One opposition lawmaker who is a neighbour of Marrero’s and whose home was also searched, Sergio Vergara, told reporters that Marrero had yelled out during his arrest that SEBIN intelligence officers had planted two assault rifles and a grenade in his place as a pretext.
“The United States condemns raids by Maduro’s security services and detention of Roberto Marrero, Chief of Staff to Interim President @jguaido.
We call for his immediate release. We will hold accountable those involved,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Twitter.
“Maduro has made another big mistake. The illegitimate arrest of Roberto Marrero, Interim President Juan Guaido’s aide, will not go unanswered.
He should be released immediately and his safety guaranteed,” added National Security Advisor John Bolton.
Maduro and Guaido both claim to be Venezuela’s legitimate leader but Maduro, 56, retains the loyalty of the military brass and has control of state apparatus.
Guaido, 35, declared himself interim president on January 23 and has the backing of the US and more than 50 other countries.
So far their power struggle has bogged down in an impasse, with Maduro railing daily about the US “imperialists” trying to dislodge him and Guaido.