Venezuela SEBIN counterintelligence chief arrested for alleged extortion, kidnapping

Carlos Ortega, the chief of counterintelligence for Venezuela's Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN), has been arrested along with several officers under his command. The detentions stem from allegations of extortion and kidnapping.

Former Caracas Metropolitan Police commissioner Iván Simonovis reported the arrests, stating that the investigation was initiated by a complaint from Francisco Rivera, identified as a businessman in the financial sector. According to Simonovis's account, Rivera was initially subjected to an extortion attempt where SEBIN counterintelligence officials demanded $50,000 in cash.

Simonovis further alleged that a week later, Ortega ordered Rivera's kidnapping. During his captivity, Rivera was reportedly pressured to pay an additional $250,000 and hand over a vehicle. Rivera allegedly complied with these demands to secure his release before reporting the incident to the authorities.

The complaint reportedly led to an operation by the Directorate General of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM), which conducted the arrests of Ortega and his alleged accomplices. As of the report, specific details regarding the arrest locations, formal charges, or the judicial authority overseeing the case have not been publicly disclosed.