Maduro vows to fully block drug transit through Venezuela

Venezuela has no coca plantations or drug laboratories, and the transit of narcotics through the country will soon be completely blocked, President Nicolás Maduro said, according to Venezolana de Televisión.

“According to reports from the UN and several countries, which reflect the actual situation and can be verified by experts, Venezuelan territory is free of coca plantations and cocaine production laboratories. Soon, we will completely block drug transit,” Maduro stated.

The Venezuelan leader noted that 87% of cocaine originating from South America is transported from Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru via the Pacific Ocean, 8% through the Caribbean coast of Colombia’s La Guajira department, and only 5% is attempted to be smuggled through Venezuela, of which 70% is intercepted.

Maduro added that in recent years, “402 aircraft used for drug trafficking have been neutralised,” and that Venezuela will soon fully block drug transit across its territory.

By Vugar Khalilov