The president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, praised the praiseworthy work carried out by the military personnel, militiamen and all the people of the border, in the surroundings of the Catatumbo area, from the state of Táchira to Zulia, for the absolute success of Operation Relampago del Catatumbo (Catatumbo Lightning) 2025.
In the edition of his Con Maduro + program held at Miraflores Palace, the head of State received a balance and scope of this operation from the vice president of the National Sovereignty sector and Minister of People’s Power for Defense, G/J Vladimir Padrino López; and the operational strategic commander of the FANB (CEOFANB), G/J Domingo Antonio Hernández Lárez, who participated in this task, since January 31, in order to guarantee peace and territorial control, as well as the capacity for immediate action and reaction.
Along these lines, G/J Vladimir Padrino López detailed that this Operation has yielded very valuable results that are related to:
-Between 2022 and 2025, more than 100 tons of drugs have been seized in the sector, characterized by great complexity, due to the presence of armed groups.
-More than 27 camps were destroyed, specifying that since 2022 have been dismantled more than 27 drug camps, dormitories, training, chemical laboratories, submarine construction, weapons construction and more than 70 clandestine runways.
Minister Padrino López recalled that Operation Relampago del Catatumbo began with the care of displaced people from Colombia; process in which more than 2 thousand people received comprehensive care: «We continue in the Venezuelan Guajira, with military presence.»
As part of this reality, the head of State emphasized that the Colombian State must assume its responsibility, to have a presence, protect its people, exercise its sovereignty and control its part, because «on our part we fulfilled and overfulfilled with our glorious Bolivarian National Armed Forces.»
Along these lines, the head of State also proposed the Great Binational Development Zone, but Colombia has not responded. «Venezuela has proposed making a Great Binational Joint Development Zone, between the North of Santander and the states of Zulia and Táchira, but we have not received a response from Colombia.»
He pointed out the importance of continuing to move forward and sent a very special message to the law enforcement forces and military forces of the neighboring nation, stating that on the part of Venezuela there is a genuine desire for peace for the sister country.
The Dignitary called for the consolidation of a territory of peace, security and unity for the liberation of our people from many forms of oppression.
