Reporters from Spanish news agency arrested in Venezuela

THREE journalists and a driver from the Spanish news agency EFE are being held in custody in Venezuela after their apparently unmotivated arrest whilst covering street protests against ousted president Nicolás Maduro's régime.

Colombians Maurén Barriga Vargas (centre), a journalist, and Leonardo Muñoz (left), a photographer, along with the latter's driver, Venezuelan José Salas and Spanish journalist Gonzalo Domínguez Loeda were detained in the capital, Caracas, at the EFE office based there.

Members of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) detained Gonzalo and Maurén at the EFE branch last night (Wednesday), and told them the other two had been arrested earlier by the Directorate of Military Counter-Intelligence (DGCIM).

Gonzalo and Maurén were escorted to their hotel to collect their belongings before being taken into custody and questioned.

Head of EFE in Caracas, Nélida Fernández, says she and the agency's lawyer are closely following the situation and attempting to clarify the arrest with Venezuelan authorities in order to secure their workers' release as soon as possible.

The two Colombians and the Spaniard had travelled from Bogotá to Caracas on Thursday, January 17 to help cover the political crisis, and were held up at Caracas' Maiquetía airport after being identified as reporters.

Intelligence, migration and customs authorities subjected them to interviews and security filters lasting nearly three hours before they allowed them into the country without restrictions.

Spain's government has totally condemned the arrests and demanded Nicolás Maduro order their immediate release.

Spanish president Pedro Sánchez says his government is in close contact with the embassy in Caracas and fighting to get the EFE workers out of jail.

He has already threatened Maduro that Spain will formally recognise his disputed successor Juan Guaidó as Venezuelan president if Maduro employs violence, repression or armed conflict in an attempt to return to power.

“No governor can be legitimate if his or her subjects have to leave the country for their own safety,” Sánchez said of Maduro.

Later today, the European Parliament is expected to announce its official recognition of Juan Guaidó as Venezuelan president, in line with the USA and the majority of Latin America – except Cuba, which supports Maduro – and in contrast to Russia, which also backs the now-ex leader.