Venezuela asks Colombia to 'collaborate' against fuel traffic

[Blexfraptor]

Attorney General Tarek Saab made the request after capturing a border band.

Venezuelan Attorney General, Tarek Saab, reported on Thursday that a gang dedicated to fuel smuggling to Colombia from the border states of Zulia and Tachira was dismantled, so he urged the authorities of this country to "collaborate" in the fight against this crime.

"Those who said that it was a myth that our fuel was trafficked to Colombia this case is a reference (...) why we as Public Prosecutor urge the Colombian authorities that just as we are doing (...) do so they in Colombia to fight this type of crime, "said the prosecutor.

At a press conference, Saab said the investigation began on August 31 with a first finding of five tanker trucks in the state of Zulia (northwest), which are presumed to have been moved to Colombia. Other vehicles and parking lots were also specified by the investigators in which another 19 tanker trucks, each with a capacity of 38,000 liters, were seized.

He said that 70 containers called "totems" and an estimated 772,000 liters of "kerosene, gas oil (...) and even crude oil that would be trafficked to Colombia are being held".

According to the public prosecutor, the patrimonial damage calculated after these seizures reaches four million dollars. He also indicated that up to now eight searches have been carried out against companies and residences and four arrest warrants have been issued against those involved.

The Government of Nicolás Maduro decreed a set of economic adjustments that include the increase of gasoline that will only be subsidized to Venezuelans who have registered their vehicles in an automotive census in which you can only participate if you are a carrier of the official card called "country card".

According to estimates of the ruling Chavismo, the illegal extraction of Venezuelan gasoline through the long and porous border with Colombia generates "millions of dollars" to the smugglers and has become one of the most profitable businesses due to the difference in prices and prices. subsidies that Caracas maintains.