A U.S. Navy sailor has been detained in Venezuela, as confirmed by several U.S. officials. The service member, who is a U.S. citizen, was apprehended on August 30, 2024, in Caracas. According to one official, the sailor is currently in the custody of SEBIN, Venezuela’s intelligence agency, as reported by CNN.

The U.S. Navy is reportedly investigating the matter and working closely with the State Department for further information.

US Navy sailor detained in Venezuela.

This comes after US detained Venezuela's presidential plane.

US advises its citizens against traveling to Venezuela, warning that "there is a high risk of wrongful detention of US nationals." pic.twitter.com/wCcKdZ14J1

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A defense official stated, “We are aware of reports that a U.S. Navy Sailor was detained on or about August 30, 2024, by Venezuelan law enforcement authorities while on personal travel to Venezuela.

The U.S. Navy is looking into this and working closely with the State Department. We refer you to the State Department for additional questions.”

Notably, the detained service member was not on official duty or approved leave when traveling to Venezuela, raising questions about the reasons for this unsanctioned trip.

No details have emerged regarding the motive for his travel to the troubled South American nation, where tensions with the U.S. have been high.

The State Department has acknowledged the reports of the detention but remained tight-lipped. A spokesperson said, “We have no further information to share at this time.”

The White House has also commented, with National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stating, “We’re obviously in touch, as appropriate, with Venezuelan authorities to try to get more knowledge and information about this.”

U.S. authorities have long warned against traveling to Venezuela due to the risk of wrongful detention.

The State Department’s advisory explicitly warns that “there is a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals,” pointing out that U.S. citizens have been held by Venezuelan forces for extended periods, some as long as five years, with limited communication with the U.S. government.

This detention comes at a time when Venezuela is experiencing significant political unrest.

Protests have rocked the nation since the controversial reelection of President Nicolás Maduro, with opposition leaders and several Latin American nations refusing to acknowledge the results.

Maduro’s contested victory has fueled chaos, with protests leading to the deaths of at least 11 individuals and the detention of hundreds.

The situation escalated further when the U.S. recently seized Maduro’s plane in the Dominican Republic.

One U.S. official noted the symbolic weight of this action, saying it “sends a message all the way to the top” that no one, including foreign heads of state, is beyond the reach of U.S. sanctions.

This is not the first time U.S. citizens have been detained in Venezuela. In 2022, nine Americans, including the “Citgo 6,” were released after five years of imprisonment. The U.S. secured the release of six more wrongfully detained Americans in December 2023.