Colombia: Venezuelan troops cross border amid rising insecurity /update 1

Event

On the night of Saturday, August 26, Venezuelan security forces allegedly crossed the Colombian-Venezuelan border and entered the town of Paraguachón, in the La Guajira region. The troops reportedly fired tear gas at residents before robbing them of cellphones, money, and identification papers. Around 20 security personnel were allegedly involved in the incident, and four residents were injured. The Colombian government submitted a formal diplomatic complaint to Venezuela; however, on Sunday, August 27, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro denied that the incident took place. Colombia’s Ministry of Defense is reportedly planning to increase the security presence in the region to prevent future incursions.

Furthermore, security operations against gangs on August 27 in Cúcuta, in the Norte de Santander region, resulted in three dead, four wounded, and nine arrests. One army officer was also killed during the operation, which targeted members of the Gulf Clan, a large criminal gang operating in the region.

Context

Colombian security forces have been unable to secure much of the territory left open by the demobilization of the FARC guerilla group following a peace agreement signed in November 2016. Various criminal and paramilitary groups such as the Popular Liberation Army (EPL) have been expanding into these territories. An increase in drug trafficking along the border and related violent incidents has been reported.

Meanwhile, neighboring Venezuela has experienced consistent violent clashes between government forces and anti-government protesters since the beginning of April. Demonstrators are denouncing a wide range of grievances as well as demanding early elections. Venezuela has been devastated by a long series of crises affecting the restive country in recent months and years, including a breakdown of the democratic system, major shortages of gasoline, medications, food, and other basic necessities, an alarming spike in rates of violent crime, massive inflation and economic recession, and a resurgence of disease.

Advice

Individuals are advised to avoid the Venezuelan-Colombian border due to these and other security concerns. Many Western governments advise against travel to this zone as well as various other regions in the two countries.