CARACAS: The Venezuelan military has downed two drug-smuggling aircraft, the head of the armed forces strategic operational command has said.
Both of the aircraft that were shot down had taken off from Central America, “apparently coming from Guatemala”, General Vladimir Padrino told the state television.
“The first neutralisation, according to the terminology established by law, occurred on day 19 (of October) at 11:21 p.m. local time when the intruder entered (national airspace), and the same procedure was used against another that entered today before dawn.”
This year, so far, 13 other aircraft involved in the drug trade “were immobilised” (attacked on land), while the two in the last 24 hours were “rendered useless” when they flew over Puerto Ayacucho, capital of the southern state of Amazonas on the Colombian border, Padrino said.