US service member detained in Venezuela, officials say

A US service member has been detained in Venezuela, according to four US officials familiar with the matter.

The service member is a US citizen and was detained on August 30 in Caracas, according to the officials. One of the officials said he is being held by the Venezuelan intelligence agency SEBIN.

Another official said the service member was not on official travel or approved leave when he traveled to the country. It is not clear why he traveled there.

The State Department advises Americans against traveling to Venezuela, warning that “there is a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals.”

“Security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years,” the travel advisory for Venezuela says. “The U.S. government is not generally notified of the detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela or granted access to U.S. citizen prisoners there.”

CNN has asked the Venezuelan government and the US State Department for comment.

This story is breaking and will be updated.