Venezuela: Armed forces make largest pot bust in a decade
By Regina Garcia Cano?|?AP
September 5, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. EDT
Sacks containing illegal drugs and plastic barrels containing fuel, seized by the armed forces of Venezuela are displayed at a beachside campsite in the village of Tiraya, Venezuela, Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. The armed forces of Venezuela announced what they characterized as the largest marijuana bust of the last 10 years after they intercepted a boat off the country’s Caribbean coast over the weekend. (AP Photo/Regina Garcia Cano)
TIRAYA, Venezuela — The armed forces of Venezuela announced Monday what they characerized as the largest marijuana bust of the last 10 years in the South American country.
Members of the armed forces on Saturday intercepted a vessel carrying more than 3.1 US tons (2.8 metric tons) of marijuana, almost 18 pounds (8 kg) of cocaine and extra outboard boat motors off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, said Gen. Domingo Hernández, general commander of the Operational Strategic Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces. He added that the vessel had departed Colombia and was en route to the island of Martinique.
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Nearly 6,293 pounds (2,857 kilos) of marijuana were seized from the boat, which lacked identification and had seven extra motors as well as 33 large storage containers with fuel and a satellite phone.
The arrests and seizure were part of special operations of the armed forces across Venezuela’s border. Soldiers in the area have also seized makeshift buildings that store fuel for airplanes used by drug traffickers who land in nearby illegal runways.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/venezuela-armed-forces-make-largest-pot-bust-in-a-decade/2022/09/05/80a53e70-2d6e-11ed-bcc6-0874b26ae296_story.html
