3 U.S. citizens, 2 Spaniards held over alleged plot to "destabilize" Venezuela

Three American citizens, two Spaniards and a Czech citizen have been detained in Venezuela on suspicion of plotting to destabilize the country through "violent actions," the government said Saturday, adding that hundreds of weapons had been seized.

The Venezuelan government identified the men detained on Saturday in an online video. One of them was identified as an American Navy sailor detained in Venezuela earlier this month while visiting the country on personal travel, several U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News. The enlisted sailor is a petty officer first class and formerly a Navy SEAL who was assigned to a West Coast team, several U.S. officials and a senior Defense Department official told CBS News. 

A State Department spokesperson told CBS News in a statement Saturday that the Biden administration could confirm the detention of the sailor and was "aware of unconfirmed reports" of the detentions of two other U.S. citizens.