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Smugglers, also known as "maleteros," burned two vehicles. They reject the strict controls implemented by the Bolivarian National Guard of Venezuela (GNB) to avoid commodity smuggling into Colombia
Published in: ElUniversal.com - September 5, 2013
Protests were reported on Thursday morning at Venezuela-Colombia border, particularly across the international bridges connecting Venezuela's south-western Táchira state with Colombia. Apparently, Colombian smugglers, also know as "maleteros," gathered to protest against the controls the Venezuelan National Guard has been implementing in the border to avoid food and commodity smuggling into Colombia.
The smugglers burned two vehicles and tires across the Simón Bolívar international bridge which communicates the bordering towns of San Antonio del Táchira (Venezuela) and Cúcuta (Colombia); and also the Francisco de Paula Santander bridge, connecting Ureña (Táchira state) and Colombia.
Demonstrators have blocked pedestrian and vehicle transit in both bridges, so people are forced to cross the river in the Ureña bordering zone.
The Colombian National Army has been deployed in the area to take action. For its part, the Venezuelan National Armed Forces are on the alert in San Antonio del Táchira.
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