Smuggling is part of the economic war

President Maduro declared via twitter that the smuggling of basic subsidized products from Venezuela to Colombia is part of the Economic War he claims is being waged against Venezuela.

“Smuggling is a vice that harms the economic life of our countries and only benefits the parasitic mafias that plunder our people. Smuggling is part of the economic war against the country. We must continue the struggle to defeat it and to achieve a healthy economy,” wrote Maduro (@NicolasMaduro).

As part of the agreements reached by Maduro with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Venezuela will be deploying 17,000 army officials at key frontier points, and border crossings will be closed from 10pm to 5am.

Criticisms of the measures were denounced by Maduro as part of an “anti-patriotic” campaign: “To the mass media of the parasitic bourgeoisie: enough with this anti-patriotic campaign.”

(Image from El Universal)