Venezuela will build five military bases close to its border with
Colombia to fight drug trafficking, paramilitary intrusions,
kidnappings and other criminal acts, Caracas announced Sunday.
The bases will be located spread over the Sierra de Perijá and the state of Zulia. All four components of the armed forces (army, navy, air force and national guard) will be active on the bases, Venezuela’s Defense Minister told the Bolivarian Press Agency.
According to the minister, the bases are part of the Government’s “National Defense and National Sovereignty Plan” and be mostly focused on the fight against increasing drug trafficking. he says the armed forces already have been able to seize 45 tons of narcotics and arrest 14 prominent drug traffickers.
The increase of Veneuelan military presence on the Colombian border happens practically at the same time as Colombia’s southern leftist neighbor, who also decided to increase the military presence on Colombia’s border.
