Protests are funded by smuggling mafias

The governor of the frontier State of Táchira, José Gregorio Vielma Mora, claims that yesterday’s protests in San Cristobal were funded by smuggling mafias.

“Again Táchira was surprised today with guarimbas [street barricades]. Every time that the government comes down full force against criminal bands, against the capos of the mafias [that smuggle] all the products, they start supporting violence. These people are financed by the smugglers. (…) They have ties to the Empire,” said the governor.

Minister of Interior, Miguel Rodriguez Torres, also declared yesterday that “intelligence networks displayed along the frontier areas of Táchira to fight against smuggling, have detected a group of people linked to the protests in San Cristobal.”

(Image El Universal)