A U.S. federal agent secretly attempted to recruit Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s personal pilot as part of a plot to capture the leader and deliver him into American custody on drug trafficking charges, according to recent reports. The incident has raised significant concerns about Washington’s intentions and the potential for further escalation in the region.
According to the sources, the agent was Edwin Lopez, a Homeland Security official who met with General Bitner Villegas, Maduro’s pilot, in the Dominican Republic in early 2024. The offer reportedly included financial incentives and protection in exchange for diverting the plane to a location where the U.S. authorities could apprehend Maduro. While the pilot initially showed some interest, he ultimately refused the proposition, describing Lopez as a coward and cutting off all contact.