translated from Spanish: Venezuelan military seizes several explosives on the border with Colombia

Caracas.- The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) seized at least 40 kilograms of explosives in a section of the Venezuelan state of Táchira, in the border area with Colombia, official leader Freddy Bernal reported on Tuesday.” Yesterday our FANB seized significant quantity of explosives and war equipment from the paramilitary band Los Rastrojos in the mountainous area of La Popa, 2 kilometers from the border line with Colombia,” Bernal, who by presidential designation, orders custody of that border region.

The Chavista leader explained that among the seized material are an explosive cylinder of 12 kilograms, 28 explosives of one kilogram each, three other explosives in the form of a sphere and clothing similar to that used by the Colombian Army.” We continue to displace any hostile and criminal force from the territory (…) Know the empire of the United States and its lackeys in Colombia that their criminal gangs at the border will be defeated by the flag of peace,” he added on the same social network at the foot of a photograph showing what was seized.

I congratulate the #FANB for the work done in defence of the homeland, especially the 25 BRIGADA for performing this procedure impeccably.
Know the #EEUU empire and its lackeys in Colombia that their criminal gangs at the border will be defeated by the flag of peace. pic.twitter.com/5GlJsqqLDG — Freddy Bernal (@FreddyBernal)
December 24, 2019

Venezuela’s Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said on Monday that Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil facilitated the movements of the armed group responsible for an attack on a military fort in the south of the country on Sunday. Speaking on the VTV State channel, Rodriguez stated that the Governments of Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil “use” the military who abandoned the Venezuelan Armed Forces and sought refuge in those countries to “sow violence, destruction and death in Venezuela and then dismiss them”. In Rodriguez’s view, the authorities of the above-mentioned countries “have much to say, much to explain” about the stay of the deserter military in their respective nations.

Rodriguez. / EFE.

He added that the training of the armed group took place in Colombia, while in Ecuador and Peru “they were allowed free transit” and eventually in Brazil they were facilitated to enter the territory and stay in a border town until the failed assault.

Original source in Spanish