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Venezuela bombs drugs airstrips | Venezuela bombs drugs airstrips |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Venezuelan authorities have launched a new operation against the illegal drugs trade by bombing secret airstrips in remote parts of the country. | Venezuelan authorities have launched a new operation against the illegal drugs trade by bombing secret airstrips in remote parts of the country. |
The first runway to be destroyed was 15km (nine miles) from the Colombian border in the state of Apure. | The first runway to be destroyed was 15km (nine miles) from the Colombian border in the state of Apure. |
Venezuela is often used as a transit point by traffickers sending Colombian cocaine to the US and Europe. | Venezuela is often used as a transit point by traffickers sending Colombian cocaine to the US and Europe. |
Washington has criticised Venezuela for not doing enough to combat the cocaine trade - a charge Venezuela denies. | |
The US state department, in its annual drugs report published in March, described Venezuela as one of the principal drug transit countries in the Western Hemisphere. | The US state department, in its annual drugs report published in March, described Venezuela as one of the principal drug transit countries in the Western Hemisphere. |
It accused the Venezuelan authorities of failing to co-operate fully in the international fight against drugs. | It accused the Venezuelan authorities of failing to co-operate fully in the international fight against drugs. |
We are fulfilling our responsibility in the war against this scourge Col Nestor Reverol Venezuelan anti-drugs office | We are fulfilling our responsibility in the war against this scourge Col Nestor Reverol Venezuelan anti-drugs office |
Success in tackling the illegal drugs trade in Colombia, the report said, was leading to a shift in trafficking patterns to countries like Venezuela, which suffer rampant high-level corruption and a weak judicial system. | Success in tackling the illegal drugs trade in Colombia, the report said, was leading to a shift in trafficking patterns to countries like Venezuela, which suffer rampant high-level corruption and a weak judicial system. |
The Venezuelan government rejects this, pointing to a number of initiatives and major seizures as proof that it is cracking down on the illegal trade. | The Venezuelan government rejects this, pointing to a number of initiatives and major seizures as proof that it is cracking down on the illegal trade. |
The vast area of Los Llanos, which stretches east from the Colombian border, is very flat, making it ideal terrain for traffickers who can easily create improvised runways. | The vast area of Los Llanos, which stretches east from the Colombian border, is very flat, making it ideal terrain for traffickers who can easily create improvised runways. |
In the state of Apure state alone, Venezuelan authorities have found 157 landing strips and they estimate that there are hundreds more. | In the state of Apure state alone, Venezuelan authorities have found 157 landing strips and they estimate that there are hundreds more. |
The objective of the bombing missions is to destroy them all, officials say. | The objective of the bombing missions is to destroy them all, officials say. |
Colonel Nestor Reverol, the director of Venezuela's National Anti-Drugs Office, says their action is proof of the country's commitment to tackling the drugs trade. | Colonel Nestor Reverol, the director of Venezuela's National Anti-Drugs Office, says their action is proof of the country's commitment to tackling the drugs trade. |
"We are fulfilling our responsibility in the war against this scourge," he said. | "We are fulfilling our responsibility in the war against this scourge," he said. |
The authorities say the bombing operation will be backed up by a awareness and social programme aimed at the indigenous communities living in these remote parts of the country. | The authorities say the bombing operation will be backed up by a awareness and social programme aimed at the indigenous communities living in these remote parts of the country. |
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