In a revelation that reads like a Cold War espionage thriller, a U.S. Homeland Security Investigations agent, Edwin Lopez, attempted to recruit Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s pilot as part of a covert operation to capture the leader and bring him to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges. The plot, which unfolded in the Caribbean, highlights the Trump administration’s escalating pressure on Maduro, including the deployment of a naval strike force and a $50 million bounty for his arrest. Lopez, who served as an attaché in the Dominican Republic, targeted Bitner Villegas, Maduro’s pilot and a member of the presidential honor guard, during a secret meeting at an airport hangar in Santo Domingo. Despite initial noncommittal responses, Lopez maintained contact with Villegas via encrypted messaging, urging him to become a national hero by aiding in Maduro’s capture. The pilot ultimately rebuffed the offer, prompting a campaign by Venezuelan opposition leaders to sow doubt about his loyalty. The fallout included a viral social media post that questioned Villegas’ allegiance, leading to speculation and his temporary disappearance before he publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to Maduro. This operation underscores the U.S.’s persistent, albeit often haphazard, efforts to oust Maduro, whom it accuses of undermining Venezuela’s democracy and facilitating drug trafficking.
Takeaways from AP’s report on a US plot to recruit Maduro’s pilot to betray Venezuelan leader
