"The plan was first hatched after Lopez received a tip about Venezuelan planes undergoing repairs in the Dominican Republic. Realizing that Venezuela likely violated sanctions by using American parts, Lopez first worked to have the planes seized. Then, he got the idea to use one of the pilots Venezuelan Gen. Bitner Villegas to bring the elusive Maduro to them."
"Villegas was a member of the elite presidential honor guard and colonel in the Venezuelan air force. A former Venezuelan official who regularly traveled with the president described him as friendly, reserved and trusted by Maduro. The planes he flew were used to shuttle Maduro across the globe - often to U.S. adversaries like Iran, Cuba and Russia. In a December 2023 video posted online by Maduro, Villegas can be seen holding up a radio in the cockpit as the president trades patriotic slogans with the pilot of a Russian Sukhoi fighter jet."
U.S. federal agent Edwin Lopez engaged Maduro's personal pilots for more than a year to try to get one to defect and deliver Maduro to U.S. authorities. The effort began after a tip about Venezuelan planes undergoing repairs in the Dominican Republic and concerns about sanctions violations involving American parts, leading to attempts to seize the aircraft. Lopez targeted Venezuelan Gen. Bitner Villegas, identified as Maduro's regular pilot and a colonel in the Venezuelan air force who served in the presidential honor guard. Villegas regularly flew Maduro to countries including Iran, Cuba and Russia, and Lopez offered riches and popular acclaim for cooperation.
Read at www.mediaite.com
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