Reply #1: Venezuela arrests 8 Colombians suspected of espionage, allegedly gathering data on power grid [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela arrests 8 Colombians suspected of espionage, allegedly gathering data on power grid
By Associated Press

5:01 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2010

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan authorities have arrested eight Colombians and the country's top security official on Tuesday accused them of spying.

Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami said the Colombians were detained more than a week ago and are suspected of "committing the crime of espionage" by gathering information on Venezuela's electricity system.

Investigators confiscated a camera containing images of power plants and the electrical system, El Aissami was quoted as saying by the state-run Bolivarian News Agency.

President Hugo Chavez has recently denounced purported sabotage of Venezuela's power grid, saying government foes hope to exacerbate problems as the country struggles with a severe energy crisis. But he has not offered any evidence of sabotage.

El Aissami told state television that two of the Colombians were arrested in northern Aragua state and six suspects were detained in the rural western state of Barinas. He did not elaborate on the suspects' identities or provide additional details about the spying accusations.

The arrests were first reported last week by the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, which said five of the suspects are members of the same family that owns an ice cream manufacturing business in Barinas. The remaining three are employees of the business, El Tiempo said.

More:
http://www.courant.com/news/nation-world/sns-ap-lt-venezuela-colombia,0,6639198.story