Former U.S. Green Beret Arrested for Involvement in Venezuelan Coup Attempt

Former U.S. Green Beret Arrested for Arms Smuggling Linked to Failed Venezuelan Coup

A former U.S. Green Beret, Jordan G. Goudreau, 48, was arrested on Tuesday in New York, facing serious federal charges related to arms smuggling. The arrest stems from his involvement in a botched coup attempt against the authoritarian Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, that took place in 2020. Federal authorities have accused Goudreau and his co-conspirator, Yacsy Alexandra Alvarez, of illegally exporting military-style rifles, night vision devices, lasers, silencers, and other military equipment without the necessary licenses to Colombia, starting in November 2019. These shipments were intended for activities aimed at destabilizing the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

The charges filed against Goudreau appear directly tied to the infamous cross-border raid that occurred in May 2020. This ill-fated operation involved dozens of armed combatants, including former Venezuelan soldiers and ex-American Special Forces operators, who sought to overthrow Maduro. Although Goudreau did not participate in the raid itself, he publicly claimed responsibility for the operation, known as Operation Gideon, asserting that he had meticulously planned it in collaboration with disillusioned Venezuelan officials.

The audacity of the rebellion raised eyebrows worldwide, particularly given Goudreau’s background as a decorated former U.S. Special Forces soldier who had completed several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. The plan involved a small group of approximately 60 men who intended to infiltrate Venezuela via speedboats, aiming to capture Maduro himself in the capital city of Caracas. However, the operation was swiftly thwarted by Venezuelan security forces, resulting in the death of six men and the detention of 13 others. Among those apprehended were two former Green Berets, who were reportedly recruited by Goudreau.

In August 2020, the detainees were sentenced to 20 years in prison by Venezuelan authorities, but they were later released in a prisoner exchange deal with the United States late last year.

As it stands, Goudreau and Alvarez, a Venezuelan national residing in Tampa, Florida, now face serious charges, including:

• Conspiracy to violate export laws
• Smuggling goods from the United States
• Violating federal firearm export control acts

The unfolding legal proceedings are expected to shed further light on the complexities surrounding the failed coup and the implications of foreign military involvement in Venezuela’s turbulent political landscape.