Authorities in Caracas said on Monday the armed forces detained several members of the Bolivarian National Guard of Venezuela for stealing weapons belonging to the branche. The captured militants also kidnapped two officers and rebelled, incited by far-right organizations, according to the government. Earlier, a video appeared on social media of a man identifying himself as Third Sergeant Figueroa, who claimed his unit of one of the four components of the military refuses to recognize the new administration of President Nicolas Maduro and vowed to "defend the constitution."
The declaration spurred protests in Cotiza area a few kilometers west of the presidential palace. Security forces dispersed the crowd with tear gas and blocked the district. The military said the action was "treasonous" and claimed the insurgents conducted the theft in Petare, another poor part of the city.