The Venezuelan government began a massive operational deployment of 15,000 security personnel in the states of Táchira and Zulia on Tuesday, August 26. This mobilization marks the activation of the first Binational Zone of Development and Peace in these critical border regions with Colombia, representing a significant effort to control the area.
The operation, announced through social media by Vladimir Padrino López, Vice President for the Sovereignty, Security, and Peace Sector, has the main objective of reinforcing «Operation Relámpago del Catatumbo” (Catatumbo Lightning). This plan, deployed in early 2025, was designed to directly combat the terrorist and drug trafficking gangs operating in the area.
Minister Padrino López explained that the deployment will focus on a specific 851-kilometer front, stretching from Castillete to Táchira. This sector is part of the 2,219-kilometer border that Venezuela shares with Colombia, underscoring the strategic focus on the hotspots of criminal activity.
As a key part of the reinforcement, 60 Rapid Reaction Units (URRA) will be deployed, each composed of 50 highly trained personnel. These units will be distributed equitably, with 30 assigned to Zulia state and the remaining 30 to Táchira state, to ensure an immediate and decisive response to any threat.
The operation will incorporate advanced surveillance and control technology. Intelligence, reconnaissance, and drone resources will be activated for specific missions. In addition, citizen service points will be implemented, along with river patrols with the Marine Infantry, naval patrols in Lake Maracaibo and the Gulf of Venezuela, and the deployment of larger vessels in territorial waters for a comprehensive siege.
Padrino López justified the scale and speed of the operation by stating that authorities are familiar with the territory, the geographical conditions, and the characteristics of the armed groups and drug traffickers operating along the border. This massive deployment seeks to block the path of these organizations seeking to infiltrate Venezuelan territory, reaffirming national sovereignty and security.