(CNN) -- Venezuela has thwarted a plan by two paramilitary groups to kill President Nicolas Maduro, state-run VTV reported Monday. Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres said members of the groups, made up of nine Colombian citizens, were arrested Sunday in the country's northwest before they were able to enter the capital, Caracas, with heavy weapons. Intelligence officials are tracking a third group, he said. "This may be part of a plan that was orchestrated from Colombia to kill President Maduro and de-stabilize the Venezuelan government," he said. The two nations have had a contentious relationship since 2007 when then-President Hugo Chavez said he was cutting ties with Colombia and especially former President Alvaro Uribe. He said the Colombian president had bowed to pressure from Washington "to get rid of Chavez."
@highlight
The government says two paramilitary groups plotted to kill Maduro
@highlight
The groups are made up of nine Colombian citizens
@highlight
Maduro won a tightly contested election against Henrique Capriles Radonski
@highlight
Former President Hugo Chavez died in March
While both Maduro and @placeholder have publicly called for peace after the announcement of the tight election results, tensions have been running high in Venezuela.