He explained that dozens of indigenous people died allegedly from malnutrition in the state of Apure a year ago, but according to an investigation, there were "experimental warehouses, with medicines that never reached these people."

The revelation adds to numerous irregularities in the conduct of these missionary groups, who were ordered expelled from Venezuela by President Hugo Chavez, who accused them of exploiting indigenous peoples and spying.

The Venezuelan Government denounced that, beneath a religious façade, New Tribes has been spying for the CIA, as well as for General Dynamics and Westinghouse multinational corporations.

Anthropologists and indigenous leaders also denounced experiments carried out on the Yanomami, who were subjected to the measles virus, killing dozens of people.

The sect operates in Venezuela in remote mineral-rich areas in the states of Amazonas, Bolivar and Delta Amacuro, where actions against indigenous traditions have also been denounced.

These areas are home to deposits of bauxite, gold, diamonds, uranium, iron ore, titanium, cobalt and other minerals, besides being a territory of large biodiversity, with the world's largest water reservoir.

According to a Ministry of Interior note, a decision has been taken to suspend the visa of any foreigner who has violated the law. As for Venezuelan followers of the sect, the means to guarantee respect to indigenous culture and ideas will be agreed upon.

The Venezuelan Minister recalled that New Tribes is promoted by the US "because there is geopolitical interest to have a mechanism of control of the biosphere, water, and mineral reserves there."

He said that the expulsion of these alleged missionaries is a prerogative of the Venezuelan Government and emphasized this is not a religious issue, as some have tried to present it, but rather a matter of national sovereignty.