U.S. Navy Sailor Detained In Venezuela For Unauthorized Travel

In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) conducts routine underway operations while transiting through the Taiwan Strait Wednesday,

A U.S. Navy sailor has been detained in Venezuela after traveling there without authorization for personal reasons, as confirmed by the Pentagon on Wednesday. The enlisted sailor was taken into custody by Venezuelan law enforcement last week and has been held since around August 30.

The Pentagon stated that the U.S. Navy is actively investigating the situation and is collaborating closely with the State Department to address the matter. Officials, speaking anonymously to disclose additional information, advised seeking updates on the sailor's status from the State Department.

According to one official, the sailor was not on official duty nor had obtained permission to travel to Venezuela. This incident echoes a previous occurrence earlier this year when a U.S. Army soldier was apprehended in Russia after traveling there to visit his girlfriend.