"An investigation into attacks on Venezuela has identified one more terrorist group — Cocoon 2.0— which included Leopoldo Lopez and Carlos Vecchio, among other opposition members", Rodriguez said on Thursday, as aired by a Venezuelan state-run TV broadcaster.
The minister added that the group sought to attack a cashless payment system in Venezuela.
READ MORE: 'Hitler is on Other Side': Maduro Rips Pence for Nazi Germany Allusion
Rodriguez explained that the information about the group had been recovered from a mobile phone of opposition leader Juan Guaido’s adviser Roberto Marrero, who was detained in March.
Since January, Venezuela has been rocked by political turmoil which erupted when Guaido, supported by the United States, proclaimed himself Venezuela’s interim president. Since then, Washington has frozen the US-based assets of the Venezuelan state-run oil company PDVSA in a bid to step up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Constitutionally elected Maduro, supported by China and Russia among other states, has slammed Washington's "imperialist" moves and accused Guaido of plotting to overthrow him with support from the US.
READ MORE: Maradona Punished for Dedicating His Club's Win to Maduro, Bashing 'Yankees'
