Venezuela: Armed forces make largest pot bust in a decade

Venezuela: Armed forces make largest pot bust in a decade

Photo: Regina García Cano

 

The armed forces of Venezuela announced Monday what they characerized as the largest marijuana bust of the last 10 years in the South American country.

By AP News – Regina García Cano

Sep 05, 2022

Members of the armed forces on Saturday intercepted a vessel carrying more than 3.1 US tons (2.8 metric tons) of marijuana, almost 18 pounds (8 kg) of cocaine and extra outboard boat motors off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, said Gen. Domingo Hernández, general commander of the Operational Strategic Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces. He added that the vessel had departed Colombia and was en route to the island of Martinique.





Twelve men traveling on the boat were arrested. Hernández said all are Venezuelans and were working for the Colombia-based Cartel of the Guajira.

Nearly 6,293 pounds (2,857 kilos) of marijuana were seized from the boat, which lacked identification and had seven extra motors as well as 33 large storage containers with fuel and a satellite phone.

The arrests and seizure were part of special operations of the armed forces across Venezuela’s border. Soldiers in the area have also seized makeshift buildings that store fuel for airplanes used by drug traffickers who land in nearby illegal runways.

Read More: AP News – Venezuela: Armed forces make largest pot bust in a decade

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