Western Hemisphere Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez confirmed on Tuesday the arrest of two suspected officials of the Security Administrative Department (DAS) in Venezuela when they were allegedly "spying" for Colombia.

"They will be judged according to the Venezuelan laws. Their rights will be respected (...) They were arrested in flagrante delicto, spying, and it is not the first time (...) We are not going to release them. They will be prosecuted," Chávez said during a cabinet meeting broadcast on the state-run TV network Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).

According to Chávez, the increased presence of Colombian spies in Venezuela is linked to an alleged conspiracy against his government, supported by "the CIA and the US government." Although the Head of State did not say when and where the suspected security agents were arrested, he said that they were trying to bribe Venezuelan officials to obtain information on military equipment, military units and militias.