The US warning Nicolás Maduro, after the arrest of Roberto Marrero: there will be "immediate and painful" consequences

The US special envoy for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, badured Thursday that there would be "consequences" for
the arrest of Roberto Marrero, the right arm of the leader of the opposition

Juan Guaidó

Marrero is the bureau chief and one of Guaidó's closest men, who more than 50 countries recognize as the legitimate president of Venezuela in his capacity as president of the National Assembly.

Interior Minister Néstor Reverol said Marrero was arrested for his alleged involvement in "a terrorist cell planning to carry out a series of selective attacks".

"To do this, they would have hired Colombian and Central American mercenaries to attack the lives of political leaders, army officers and magistrates of the TSJ and to engage in acts of sabotage of public services in order to to create chaos in Bolivarian society. "

At a press conference, Abrams named the five people who, according to Washington, were involved in the arrest: Judge Carol Padilla and prosecutors Farid Mora Salcedo and Dinora Bustamante, as well as agents of the National Security Service. intelligence of Bolivar (Sebin). Dani Contreras and Ángel Flores.

The diplomat warned that there would be "consequences" for these five subjects as well as for the Venezuelan president's government

Nicolás Maduro,

that Guaidó has challenged since January 23 has been proclaimed "president in charge".

"I think you should know that we know you, we know who those who were involved in these criminal acts, we know their names and the consequences will be for the regime and also for these people," said Abrams in Spanish .

More sanctions

Abrams said Washington was already considering strengthening the sanctions against the Maduro government.

"The government [de Maduro] will learn that these are events that have immediate and difficult results, "he said.

USA C & # 39; was the first country to recognize Guaidó as interim president on Jan. 23. Since then, he has tightened the sanctions against Maduro 's executive, accusing the opposition leader of orchestrating a "coup d' etat".

On several occasions, senior Washington government officials warned that there would be consequences if anything happened to Guaidó and his relatives.

The Venezuelan Attorney General has opened an investigation against Guaidó for his alleged involvement in the mbadive blackout that has affected the country for several days and which the government considers to be "sabotage".