Caracas, May 3 (RHC)-- This May 3rd marks the fourth anniversary of Operation Gideon, which aimed to generate violence and attacks against members of the Venezuelan Government.

On May 3, 2020, the Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace, Néstor Reverol, reported that the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) together with the Special Action Forces (FAES) of the Bolivarian National Police intercepted an incursion by sea that had destabilizing objectives in the South American country.

April 30, 2019: Coup attempt

A group of deserters from the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) attempted a coup d'état with weapons stolen from the Federal Legislative Palace, positioning themselves in the Altamira distributor.  Antonio Sequea, one of those involved in "Operation Gideon", participated in this new destabilizing attempt.  This coup attempt was promoted by the opposition Leopoldo López and the opposition deputy Juan Guaidó.

April 20, 2020: Weapons stolen by four captains

Four captains and a lieutenant of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) were arrested and charged before military courts for theft of weapons in GNB detachment 441 in Puerta Morocha, Miranda state.

May 3, 2020: Terrorist raid begins in Venezuela

The mercenaries enter the coastal area of Macuto, La Guaira state, as part of "Operation Gideón," which tried to generate destabilization, violence and attacks against members of the Venezuelan Government.

During the operation, the Venezuelan authorities seized ten rifles, a Glock 9 mm pistol, and two Afag machine guns that were part of the weapons fleet of the Federal Legislative Palace stolen in April.

Likewise, two mercenaries were arrested and nine others were killed, among whom was former captain Robert Colina, alias “Pantera,” whom Cliver Alcalá Cordones called "one of his trusted men."

The president of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC) of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, indicated the arrest of the leader of the armed operation against Venezuela, Antonio Sequea, who would have participated in the frustrated coup attempt on April 30, 2019.

At the head of the armed group was Colina Ibarra, as well as deserter Javier Nieto Quintero and the executive director of Silvercorp USA, Jordan Goudreau, a former U.S. soldier.

Goudreau signs a contract with Juan Guaidó for 212 million dollars and thanked him, through a video published on social networks, for “supporting our cause.”

May 4, 2020: Operation Gideon continues

The residents of the coastal area of Chuao, in the state of Aragua, neutralized a new maritime incursion by Operation Gedeón that attempted to overthrow the legitimate president of Venezuela.  Residents of the coastal town intercepted eight mercenaries and handed them over to the FANB.

Among the first detained are two American citizens, members of Donald Trump's security team identified as Luke Alexander Denman and Airan Berry.

Faced with these terrorist actions, Operation Negro Primero, in which the civil-military-police union participates, managed to stop the terrorist plans in which the Governments of Colombia and the United States are linked.

May 5, 2020: Operation Black First continues

As part of the military exercises framed in the Bolivarian Shield, Venezuelan military forces continue to be deployed in the territory.

The Minister of Defense reported that a criminal gang with the participation of Colombian citizens was dismantled in the state of Zulia, in the west of the country.

President Maduro expressed that, during the operation on May 3rd, weapons of war, U.S. and Colombian military uniforms, tactical and communication equipment, among others, were seized.

The raid was a mercenary action with the participation of agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and drug trafficking, linked to sectors of the Venezuelan opposition, with the intention of overthrowing President Nicolás Maduro. 

May 6, 2020: Arrest of others involved in the armed incursion

The Venezuelan president declared in a virtual press conference that, in the last few hours, four other individuals involved in the armed incursion against the country were arrested.

These captures were in the town of Carayaca, west of the state of La Guaira (north), for a total of 17 people detained to date.

President Maduro highlighted that the Bolivarian Shield remains activated and Operation Negro Primero continues to capture others involved in the attempt to destabilize Venezuela.

Furthermore, one of the Americans detained in the armed raid, Luke Denman, indicated that they were planning to kidnap President Maduro to take him to the United States, so they were going to secure the airport and achieve their goal.

May 7, 2020: Objective of attacking President Maduro is ratified

The Sectoral Vice President of Communication, Tourism and Culture, Jorge Rodríguez, presented an audio with the testimony of the second American detained in the armed incursion in Venezuela, Airam Berry, who responded that he should advise the forces that they would enter and take the airport as soon as they could.

Likewise, their specific objectives were the General Directorate of Military Intelligence (Dgcim), the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin) and the Miraflores Palace (seat of Government).

May 8, 2020: Three others involved in raid against Venezuela captured

In the morning, the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, announced the capture of two other individuals linked to the armed group that tried to enter the country. This event occurred in the Puerto Cruz sector.

Likewise, on the night of that day, the Strategic Capital Comprehensive Defense Region (RediCapital) of the FANB detained another subject, also involved in "Operation Gedeón", in the Carayaca parish, La Guaira state (north).

May 10, 2020: Individuals linked to the armed incursion in Colonia Tovar arrested

The Special Action Forces (FAES) arrested three individuals involved in the armed incursion to the Venezuelan coast in an operation carried out in Colonia Tovar, Aragua state.

May 11, 2020: "Operation Black First" advances to capture the other members of the armed group

The Strategic Capital Comprehensive Defense Region of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) reported on the capture of "another terrorist mercenary in Puerto Cruz, Carayaca", state of La Guaira, as part of the yunke hammer maneuver.

May 12, 2020: New evidence of armed incursion and arrests

Minister Rodríguez presented a video with the testimony of Antonio Sequea, who was the operational head of the operation and was captured, in which he detailed that in mid-March, when Juan Guaidó traveled on his tour that ended in the United States, Jordan Goudreau contacted him and told him that he had met with Guaidó at the White House, and had been ratified as head of the armed operation against Venezuela.

He explained that three U.S. soldiers trained the group that participated in the criminal landing mission on May 3rd.  "Juan Guaidó's participation in this action is fully demonstrated; he gave the order for the armed incursion against Venezuela to take place," said Rodríguez.

In the video, Sequea affirms that the U.S. Government was fully aware of "Operation Gideon" and went on to say that Jordan had continuous communication with the mercenaries, knew all the progress, advised, and resolved any developments.  He informed individuals about the movements of the U.S. military.

On the other hand, the Comprehensive Defense Operational Zone (ZODI) of the state of Aragua announced the capture of two others involved in the maritime armed incursion against the country, on May 3.

The authorities indicated that they will continue to intensify operations to capture all those involved, since "patrolling, scrutinizing and capturing mercenaries and terrorists who try to break the will of our country continue."