Keys: What is know about Operation Gideon
Since May 3, dozens of arrests have been made, including two American citizens. The Maduro regime released audio recordings linking the president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, with failed operations against Maduro.
14 May, 2020 10:31 am
12 killed in the first 12 hours of the operation.
On Sunday, May 10, a week of the so-called Operation Gideon. In the early morning of May 3, the Minister of Justice, Nestor Reverol, denounced that in Venezuela was an ongoing attempt at "an invasion by the sea of a group of mercenaries terrorist".
Several arrests have been made since that day. The Maduro government released audio recordings and video testimony from alleged DEA agents accusing the president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido.
A week later, the team from El Pitazo collects a series of keys about the Operation Gideon:
1.- On Sunday, May 3, the Minister of Justice, Nestor Reverol, reported that Maduro regime law enforcement managed to neutralize a group of mercenaries from Colombia, who were attempting to carry out an alleged invasion of Venezuela by sea, specifically on the coast of Vargas state.
2.– The government reported that in Operation Negro Primero, as they called the effort to neutralize the alleged invasion, eight people were killed, including Captain Robert Colina, alias Pantera. They also pointed out that two citizens, who participated in the alleged invasion, were arrested.
3.-They also detailed that a Glock 9mm pistol, two machine guns, and six vehicles were seizing.
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4.- According to reports from neighbors in the zone, shots were heard at 4:00 am the Macuto beachside section. They stated that, at that time, a helicopter was flying over the area, and lights were shining on the bay. They also said that they never saw any strange movements or trucks in the house located near the Macuto Cinematheque, a government-operated movie theater, where weapons and vehicles were supposedly seized.
5.- On Monday, May 4, the governor of Aragua state, Rodolfo Marco Torres, reported that police forces of the state captured eight citizens in Chuao, Aragua state, allegedly linked to the landings that took place May 3 in Macuto, Vargas state.
6.- hours after the announcement by Aragua Governor, Diosdado Cabello published a video on his Twitter account of Josnars Adolfo Baduel, son of retired General, Raul Isaias Baduel, was one of the eight men arrested in Chuao one day after the Vargas landings. The elder Baduel, a polemical military man, was for decades a staunch Chavez supporter but turned against his rule shortly before Chavez died in 2013, and then, became a critic of Nicolas Maduro as well.
7.- Two Americans, Luke Denman, and Aaron Berry, were also arrested in Chuao. The United States government requested the repatriation of both men. "If the regime decides to hold them, we will use all the tools to bring them back," threatened U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, at a press conference on May 6.
8.- In the early morning of May 8, another police operation took place in Colonia Tovar, the agro-tourism German town near Caracas, in which FAES, the National Guard, and Military counterintelligence officials were searching houses, and even a church for alleged mercenaries linked to Operation Gideon.
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9.- The people of Colonia Tovar were under a military occupation that day and reported constant helicopter overflights.
10.- After two days of alarm for residents from the Colonia Tovar, on May 10, Minister Reverol reported that members of the Special Action Forces captured three alleged terrorists who, according to the version of Nicolás Maduro, were part of the so-called Operation Gideon.
1.- According to wire service reports from the AP and from media outlets such as The Washington Post, as well as by regime and opposition spokespersons, at least since May of last year, preparation of Operation Gideon began.
2.- Members of the Guaido interim administration also said the arrests and procedures were part of false positives, created by the Maduro government itself to have arguments to attack the opposition leadership.
3.- At a press conference on 7 May, Jorge Rodriguez reiterated that the President of the United States, Donald Trump, the interim President of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, and the President of Colombia, Ivan Duque, as responsible for the events. He also mentioned an alleged contract signed by the opposition to carry out the operation.
4.- Political strategist, Juan Jose Rendon, recognized on May 6, during an interview on CNN's Spanish that he did sign a preliminary contract with private U.S security company, Silvercop, owned by American Jordan Goudreau, but he clarified that negotiation was not completed, nor was it signed by the interim president, Juan Guaido.
5.- On May 8, Rodriguez revealed details of the alleged contract that authorized Operation Gideon, and which would have been signed by Juan Guaido. He assured that the operation would cost $212 million.
6– On Friday, May 8, the opposition leader, Juan Guaido, assured that for the liberation of Venezuela they have built up capacities, and therefore, do not need the help of foreign mercenaries.
Operation Gideon