Diosdado Cabello Rondón, Vice President of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), reported that the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) seized 16,308.10 kilograms of cocaine in various operations nationwide.
During an assessment of Operation Catatumbo Lightning, he detailed that an additional 3,960 kilograms of drugs were seized in the latest operation, representing 4 new tons of cocaine, all linked to extremist sectors of the Venezuelan opposition.
Cabelló explained in a press conference in Caracas that «in Machiques (Zulia state), we seized 53.5 kilos of cocaine in a vehicle with a false bottom.»
He stated that the confessions made by those arrested led to the identification of routes, as well as the seizure of boats, as well as the arrest of five mayors in the area linked to drug trafficking and the mafias operating in Zulia.
He noted that in Falcón state, «almost a ton of marijuana was seized; an operation is underway.»
Corruption and Drug Trafficking:
Likewise, the Minister for Interior, Justice, and Peace said that «there are 120 new companies linked to these money laundering mafias,» while commenting that «the GPS routes of the seized boats indicate a large number of trips.»
He commented that these drug trafficking operations are directed from Colombia by former presidents Álvaro Uribe and Iván Duque, who want to use Venezuelan territory to traffic drugs: «They will not pass through here,» he emphasized.
Cabello reiterated that Venezuelan opposition extremist María Corina Machado “is involved in this operation of corruption, conspiracy, terrorism, and drug trafficking,» as well as fugitive Leopoldo López, whom he accused of «visiting Uribe at his farm in Colombia.»
False positives were dismantled:
The official stated that «every day they mount false positives against the FANB» and reiterated that everything related to the now-defunct «Tren de Aragua» (Aragua Train) criminal group has been dismantled. While asserting that Machado is the one promoting these actions to attack the country:
«One of the campaigns is that Venezuela is a state of criminals, that we are a threat to the West and a security problem,» he lashed out. «They want to subvert peace in Venezuela, and they won’t succeed,» he asserted.
He reported that the State security forces managed to kill the second in command of the «El Wilexis» gang, a.k.a. «Danielito», who confronted justice agents and was killed.