For the second time in little over a week, Colombian authorities arrested Venezuelan soldiers illegally crossing into neighbor territory.
Three national guardsmen were caught on Tuesday entering the north Colombian state of Norte de Santander on motorcycle, and were handed over to Colombian migration officials, according to Semana magazine.
The soldiers were reportedly in in pursuit of a vehicle when they were intercepted by authorities on the International Francisco de Paula Santander Bridge, near the Colombian border city of Cucuta.
Six days ago, a group of six Venezuelan soldiers who claimed to be “lost” were also captured after crossing the Simon Bolivar International bridge in the same state.
After an outcry from senate conservatives following last week’s incident, Colombia’s Foreign Minister sent a formal complaint to the Venezuelan ambassador protesting the guards’ entry.
MORE: Colombia police arrest Venezuelan troops after illegal border crossing
“This is nothing more and nothing less than a violation of our national sovereignty,” read a petition presented by Senator David Barguil.
Sources
- Gobiernos de Colombia y Venezuela pactan nuevos acuerdos para venta de gas y robo de celulares (La Republica)
- Migración detiene tres miembros de la guardia venezolana (Semana)
- Conservatismo pide nota de protesta por ingreso ilegal a Colombia de Guardia venezolana (El Pais)
- Pimpineros bloquearon puente Simón Bolívar (La Opinion)
