Maduro orders more border closures with Colombia - sends 3,000 troops to stem a rise in violence

Sputnik News
Wed, 09 Sep 2015 11:41 UTC

© REUTERS/ Jose Miguel Gomez

Nicolas Maduro reportedly sent 3,000 troops close to the border with Colombia. Recently, crackdown on smugglers has triggered violence at the border.

Venezuela will be closing off more of its border with Colombia, as border tensions continue, President Nicolas Maduro announced.

"I have decided after a careful assessment to construct a new frontier, to close the border crossing of Paraguachon in Zulia state," Maduro said Monday, as quoted by the Noticia Al Dia portal.

According to the media outlet, the Venezuelan leader also sent 3,000 troops to the area.

Violence has rocked the Venezuelan-Colombian border amid crackdowns on migrants and smugglers in recent weeks. An attack on a Colombian border patrol unit prompted Bogota to shut its side of the border in late August.

Colombia and Venezuela have withdrawn their respective ambassadors later that month.

Comment: Venezuela is under a lot of pressure. Check out:

• Tensions escalate as Venezuela closes its gang- & US-infested Colombian borders

• Venezuela opens investigation into CNN en Espanol after false reporting on looting

• Chavez heir, President-elect Maduro accuses US of fomenting post-election violence

• President Maduro: Venezuela has foiled coup directed 'from Washington'