An "
American spy
" arrested last week in Venezuela must be charged with "
terrorism
", "
arms trafficking
" and "
criminal conspiracy
" for his alleged involvement in a planned "
thwarted attack
" on oil facilities, he said. announced Monday, September 14 the Attorney General of the South American country.
Read also: Venezuela: oil spill after a leak on an oil pipeline
Seven Venezuelans, including a soldier, must also be indicted for their alleged involvement in this enterprise which aimed to "
destabilize
" Venezuela by attacking "
its oil industry and its electricity system,
" Tarek William Saab added during 'a televised intervention.
On Twitter, William Saab then affirmed that the American "
Matthew Jhon Heath (...) carried out missions of three months per year in Iraq between 2006 and 2016
", where he worked as "
operator in communications on a base secret of the CIA
”, on behalf of the private security company MVM.
In possession of "
heavy weaponry
" and a "
large amount of dollars
"
The announcement of his capture was made Friday by Nicolas Maduro.
According to the socialist president, he "
spied, in the State of Falcon (north-west), the refineries of Amuay and Cardon
", of the refining center of Paraguana.
He was captured in possession of "
heavy weaponry
" and a "
large amount of dollars,
" Maduro said.
Read also: Venezuela: Maduro beheads Guaido's party
His arrest came after authorities "
discovered and dismantled
" a plan to blow up the El Palito refinery, the closest to Caracas, located in the central state of Carabobo, according to the Venezuelan president.
Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, but it is hit by massive fuel shortages.
From 3.2 million barrels per day twelve years ago, its production has fallen to less than 400,000 barrels per day today.
The Venezuelan government regularly accuses Donald Trump's administration of being behind or involved in plans for attacks intended to overthrow Nicolas Maduro, whom it does not recognize.
Last month, two other Americans, Luke Alexander Denman and Airan Berry, were sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of "
terrorism
" following a failed armed incursion into Venezuela last May.
