Two U.S. citizens were arrested in Venezuela on unclear charges, with President Nicolas Maduro alleging they were “mercenaries” involved in terrorism, though no evidence was provided.

Maduro claimed they were part of a group of seven arrested, including Colombians and Ukrainians, and said Venezuela has detained 125 alleged foreign mercenaries recently.

The U.S. State Department denied any involvement in a plot against Maduro and criticized Venezuela’s history of detaining Americans without due process.

The arrests come as opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, recognized by the U.S. and other nations as the true winner of the contested July election, visited Washington.

Maduro’s accusations follow his claims of U.S. coup plots and escalate tensions ahead of protests against his upcoming third-term inauguration, Fox News has reported.

Critics, including former diplomat Isaias Medina, view the arrests as part of Maduro’s strategy to suppress dissent and distract from Venezuela’s ongoing crises.

Written by B.C. Begley