Matthew John Heath (born 1981) is an honorably discharged U.S. Marine Corps veteran, security consultant, and commentator. He took part in the early battles of the Iraq War and was highly decorated for actions taken in the Battle of Nasiriyah. Heath specialized in communication and signals intelligence. After leaving the military in 2004, he began work as a security consultant for the U.S. Govt. On September 9, 2020 Heath was arrested by the government of Venezuela and subsequently charged with offenses related to treason, terrorism and arms trafficking. Following his arrest, his family engaged in a public advocacy campaign in order to secure his release from Venezuela.
Post Military Career
After leaving the Marine Corps, Heath worked for the U.S. State Department on the Central Poppy Eradication Program throughout Afghanistan. On August 29, 2004 the Taliban targeted Heath at his home with a suicide VBIED that killed 7, but narrowly avoided killing it's intended target. Taliban spokesman Abdul Latif Hakimi claimed full knowledge of the attack and said "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan takes full responsibility". President Hamid Karzai issued a statement regarding the blast.
Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab claims Heath worked for MVM, Inc., a private security contracting firm with ties to the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency, from 2006 until 2016.
In early 2020 Heath had purchased a small 53 foot trawler hulled yacht with plans to start a charter business in the Caribbean. Heath is currently an independent security consultant with Secure Horizons, LLC. Heath has regularly been interviewed in print for his opinions on Wrongful Detainment of U.S. citizens and his views on U.S. Venezuela relations.
Incident and arrest
In March 2020 Heath had set sail in the Caribbean on a small ship called the "Purple Dream", and sailed to Nicaragua and Colombia. He was arrested in Colombia after being found with two handgun magazines at a checkpoint. He allegedly traveled to Venezuela in an attempt to return home to the United States but was arrested on Sept 9 2020. Heath was charged by the Prosecutor General of Venezuela, Tarek William Saab, with Treason, Terrorism and Arms Trafficking. Venezuelan authorities claim to have arrested him while in possession of an AT4 rocket launcher, an Uzi sub-machine gun, C-4 explosives, pictures of a nearby oil refinery, and large amounts of foreign currency. His lawyer has called the charges against him falsified. Additionally, Heath was imprisoned in El Helicoide prison (infamous for alleged torture) and his family accused the Venezuelan government of torturing him.
In a nationally televised address, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab labeled Heath a "spy" and "mercenary" and accused him plotting attacks against Venezuela's oil industry and electricity system. Saab stated that Venezuelan security services had neutralized an operation that "could have been one of the worst in recent times" and that Heath "was found carrying out espionage activities to destabilize Venezuelan territory ... (Heath) had the help of Venezuelan citizens, both military and civilian." Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced Heath's capture and alleged Heath was spying on the country's Amuay Refinery and Cardon refineries. Maduro Alleged Heath was captured carrying "specialized weapons, communications equipment" and large amounts of cash. President Maduro alleged heath was a CIA operative.
Senior U.S. Government officials reject claims that they sent Heath to Venezuela. The Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment. The United States Marine Corps simply confirmed that a man matching Heath's name "served in the Corps from 1999 until 2003" but could neither confirm nor deny that the man arrested in Venezuela was the same man. In February 2021, Venezuelan judicial authorities ordered that a trial begin for Heath. The U.S. State Department called upon the Venezuelan government to provide a fair hearing for Heath.