CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says an American man arrested for illegally entering the country has military training and is a possible mercenary.
Chavez did not release the man's identity, but painted the detainee as an international man of mystery, CNN reported.
The man's passport bore stamps from Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Germany, Great Britain, Colombia and the Dominican Republic, Chavez said.
The president claimed the man, of "Latin origin," tried to rip up a "notebook with coordinates" he was carrying, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The man has admitted to being a former Marine, the president added.
"He has all the appearances of being a mercenary," Chavez said.
A State Department spokesman said the United States has not been notified by Venezuela of the arrest.
Chavez said the man was arrested this week as he entered Venezuela from Colombia.
The president spoke at a campaign rally late Thursday night at a port city just outside Caracas. He is running for re-election.