Colombia’s intelligence service DAS Tuesday denied Venezuelan allegations that it is spying in the neighboring country.
According to the DAS, “there have not been any instructions to DAS officials to travel to Venezuelan territory. As established in an internal order, officials are explicitly prohibited to travel to that country’s territory.”
Earlier that day, Venezuela’s deputy Foreign Minister for Latin America, Francisco Arias Cardenas, had said his country’s authorities had arrested a number of men who were carrying intelligence operations in Venezuela.
The country’s President, the leftist Hugo Chavez, later confirmed the arrest of “two officials” of the DAS who will have to appear before Venezuelan courts.
According to Chavez, the increase in the number of Colombian spies in Venezuela is part of a conspiracy against his government, orchestrated by U.S. intelligence agency CIA and the U.S. government.