Other - Over 1 Ton of Cocaine Seized in Venezuela

[terrapinzflyer]

Over 1 Ton of Cocaine Seized in Venezuela

CARACAS – The National Guard seized 1.2 tons of cocaine hidden at an illegal landing strip near the Meta River, which marks the border between Venezuela and Colombia, the official ABN news agency reported.

The cocaine was found during a search Monday by National Guard drug enforcement units at the landing strip, located some 700 kilometers (435 miles) south of Caracas.

Officials have not provided any additional details about the operation, ABN said.

Authorities in Venezuela, which shares a 2,219-kilometer (1,378-mile) border with Colombia, have now seized 23 tons of cocaine this year.

Colombia is the world’s largest grower of coca and producer of cocaine, according to a U.N. report released in June, but output of both illegal commodities fell in 2008.

The Andean country has some 81,000 hectares (200,000 acres) of land planted with coca, giving it the potential to produce 430 metric tons of cocaine annually, the U.N. said.


EFE

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?Arti...tegoryId=10717