In order to reinforce the deployment of Operation Autana 2023, the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, ordered an increase in the number of military, police and militia personnel «until we have completely liberated all national parks, the Amazon and all protected areas”.
During the broadcast of the “Con Maduro+” program, he pointed out that in the area are operating Colombian mafias «that come to destroy our national parks».
In this sense, the head of state explained that Venezuela coordinates actions with Colombia, through the Ministry of People’s Power for Defense, so that severe measures are applied and prevent the regrouping of mafias, as well as their return to national territory:
“They are Colombian mafias that come to destroy our National Parks. We are coordinating, through the Minister of People’s Power for Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, with the Colombian government, so that when we kick out these mafias, there is also a severe action by the State and they do not allow these mafias to regroup on the Colombian side to attack again as they are doing,» he said.
Since mid-June, the Venezuelan president instructed the Strategic Operational Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (CEOFANB) to intensify efforts to eradicate illegal mining in national parks and the Amazon:
«All the support to the Bolivarian National Armed Forces in their actions to defend national parks, jungles, clean water sources, the Amazon (…) We are tireless, we will liberate those sectors come rain or come shine”, he stressed.
