Venezuela destroys a plane allegedly linked to drug trafficking from Mexico

Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) on Thursday reported the destruction of a plane off Mexico’s Cozumel island after entering the country’s airspace without permission. The strategic operations commander of the military forces, Domingo Hernández Larraz, has assured that it was a white twin-engined Gulfstream equipment with V-GRS license plates, and described it as an “attack aircraft”.

The official assured that the ship had been detected by radar and had entered the area without permission and that a “defense plan” had been activated to “destroy hostile aircraft.” In a message on his social networks, he shared photos in which the plane can be seen in mid-flight and, later, other photos showing the remains of the plane burning in a wooded area in the state of Julia. West of the country.

Over the past year, the Bolivarian Armed Forces have deployed their defense artillery to destroy aircraft allegedly linked to drug trafficking and illegal mining. In 2023, at least 38 destroyed aircraft were recorded. Last November, Venezuelan military forces also disabled another “hostile” aircraft in Apure state.

Border defense activity has been associated with increased political tensions in Venezuela. However, in recent weeks, the Venezuelan government has condemned alleged plots to assassinate Nicolás Maduro, leading to arrests within the military forces and the demotion of approximately thirty officers of various ranks. In addition to the purge, the military sector has carried out a campaign and deployment of troops and equipment to the borders to confront perceived threats, as part of the so-called “Bolivarian Fury”, which the President ordered to be activated at the same time. The time when opposition presidential candidate María Corina Machado was harassed. With messages that mention “far-right” and “terrorist actions operating from the Northern Kingdom”, military officials point to their enemy.

In late December, military tensions escalated in Venezuela and neighboring countries due to the crisis arising from a referendum called by Maduro that approved the annexation of the Essequibo region, disputed with Guyana for more than a century. … The incident involving naval vessels of the United Kingdom and Venezuela occurred following a mediation meeting hosted by Brazil in the Caribbean country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

This Thursday, Guyanese Foreign Minister Hugh Todd and Venezuelan Yvan Gil met for the first time at the Itamarati Palace with the presence of Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. Although Venezuela remains in a state of alert, they have pledged to continue negotiations in a “peaceful” and “threat-free” environment on the dispute over the disputed territory.

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