The Colombians detained in Venezuela and accused by Venezuelan officials of being DAS spies do not belong to the Colombian intelligence agency and have previous convictions, the DAS Director said Thursday.
Director Felipe Muñoz told Caracol Radio that the DAS had obtained the names of the detainees and investigated their identities.
“Eduardo González Muñoz was detained October 3, he has a conviction for carrying arms and drugs. In Maracay they say he is one of the DAS spies, but it must be clarified that he neither works for the DAS nor is a source of the organization,” said Muñoz.
Muñoz said that Angel Jacinto Carrero was also detained October 3 in Maracay and claimed to have information regarding FARC activity in Arauca and was enrolled as a source but after a year authorities decided his information was not pertinent to investigations.
“He was investigated for intent to commit a crime and extortion and he is not a DAS official,” Muñoz said.
Venezuela authorities arrested the alleged Colombian intelligence officials on Tuesday and believe them to be spies.
According to Venezuelan President Hugo 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.