A former U.S. Green Beret, Jordan Goudreau, who orchestrated a failed mission in 2020 to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has been arrested in New York on federal charges related to arms smuggling. The indictment filed in Tampa, Florida, has accused Goudreau and his Venezuelan partner, Yacsy Alvarez, of violating arms control laws by assembling and sending AR-styled weapons, ammunition, night vision goggles, and other military equipment to Colombia without the necessary export licenses.
Goudreau, aged 48, faces charges including conspiracy, smuggling goods from the United States, and unlawful possession of a machine gun, among others. He is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Goudreau gained notoriety in 2020 when he claimed responsibility for an amphibious raid involving soldiers trained in secret camps in Colombia, with the aim of safeguarding Venezuela’s democracy following Maduro’s disputed reelection in 2018.
The coup attempt, known as the Bay of Piglets, ended disastrously with the group being easily defeated by Venezuela’s security forces, who had infiltrated their ranks. Goudreau had sought support from various sources, including the opposition leader Juan Guaido and the Trump administration, but ultimately the mission lacked adequate funding and resources. Several individuals involved in the plot were apprehended and faced imprisonment in Venezuela.
The arrest of Goudreau comes amid renewed international scrutiny of Maduro’s leadership, with the recent presidential election results facing skepticism from Western nations including the U.S. The indictment against Goudreau and Alvarez outlined their efforts to procure military equipment through text messages, international transfers of funds, and large-scale purchases. Both Goudreau and Alvarez have legal representation, with Alvarez reportedly seeking asylum in the U.S. and maintaining her innocence.
The U.S. Justice Department has refrained from commenting on the case, while Goudreau’s attorney asserts his client’s innocence. Goudreau, who has been present at court proceedings but declined to speak on the matter, faces serious charges related to the smuggling of arms and involvement in the ill-fated coup attempt in Venezuela.
