Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro waves a national flag during a rally in support of his government in Caracas on Jan 23, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

CARACAS - Up to 33 soldiers and high-ranking officers have been expelled from Venezuela's Bolivarian National Armed Forces for plotting against the government, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

They are "involved in conspiracies by planning criminal and terrorist actions to attack the legitimately constituted system of government", the ministry said in a statement.

Stripping them of their military status is in keeping with "the traditions and moral ethical codes that characterize the FANB ... since the aforementioned subjects are not worthy of belonging to our ranks", it said.

Those expelled were involved in a plot to bring about "the assassination of the top national leader", said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The statement, signed by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, lists the highest-ranking military personnel expelled, including a major general, two colonels and six lieutenant colonels.

Padrino Lopez announced the initial expulsion of 18 people on Tuesday, a day after the Venezuelan Prosecutor's Office said authorities have uncovered five plans to destabilize the country, including the plot to assassinate Maduro.

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Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez announced the initial expulsion of 18 people on Tuesday, a day after the Venezuelan Prosecutor's Office said authorities have uncovered five plans to destabilize the country, including the plot to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro

On Tuesday, the US Department of State said that it was "deeply concerned by the issuance of arrest orders and detentions against at least 33 Venezuelans," which it deemed "contrary to the spirit of the October 2023 electoral roadmap agreement" signed between sectors of the opposition and the Venezuelan government.

In a separate statement released on Wednesday, Venezuela's Foreign Ministry dismissed as "cynical" Washington's reaction to the arrest of the anti-government operatives.

The US government has lost its "moral compass" yet intends to condemn Venezuela for taking steps to preserve peace, the ministry said.

"It is not surprising that Washington advocates in favor of the architects of the frustrated terrorist operations in Venezuela and even provides them with its complicit stance," it read.

"Defending" schemes, it said, meant to generate instability that "fosters violence and threatens the normal development of the 2024 electoral process".

This year's elections will find "guarantees of peace" in Venezuelan institutions and its people, it added.

Venezuelan authorities this week revealed that since last year they have succeeded in thwarting at least five schemes to destabilize the country, including a plot to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro.

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The Venezuelan Prosecutor's Office has ordered the arrest of more than 30 suspects in connection with these plots.