The story began in Colombia on March 23, when police stopped a van on the Caribbean coast heading in the direction of Venezuela. In the back, according to the Colombian public prosecutors’ office, were 26 US-made semi-automatic rifles, helmets, night-vision goggles and flak jackets. Three days later, a former Venezuelan general, Cliver Alcalá, said he was responsible for the cache. In a rambling and contradictory radio interview he said he and his supporters, “all committed to the liberation of Venezuela”, had planned “a military operation against the Maduro dictatorship”. By Gideon Long. Full text -> Financial Times

But some of the defectors say that they are still eager to go back home, and have become involved in plots to overthrow Venezuela’s government. By Manuel Rueda. Full text -> Cincinnati Public Radio