Credit: Ministry of the Interior of Venezuela
(CNN Spanish) - The Minister of the Interior and Justice of Venezuela, Néstor Reverol, reported this Sunday that a plane “with American acronyms” that was allegedly used for drug trafficking and that would have entered Venezuelan airspace illegally was destroyed by the armed forces from that country near its border with Colombia.
Through a statement posted on social media, Reverol indicated that the twin-engine aircraft was a GULFSTREAM III model.
«Upon entering our territory, and being detected by the radars of the Comprehensive Aerospace Defense Command (#Codai), the provisions of the Control Law for the Comprehensive Defense of the Airspace were complied with, neutralizing this plane after ignoring the identification and landing orders ”, explained the official.
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It was not clear if the aircraft was "immobilized" in the air or destroyed on the ground, since, according to the statement, agents of the National Anti-Drug Office of Venezuela found the plane on a clandestine runway in the Machiques municipality of Zulia state.
Reverol also did not explain what happened to the crew or if they were found illicit on board.
Photographs released by the Interior Ministry show the burning device on the runway and members of the Bolivarian National Guard at the scene inspecting what appears to be debris.
CNN contacted the Ministry of Communication and Information for details of the aircraft's records and has yet to receive a response.
Credit: Ministry of the Interior of Venezuela
Credit: Ministry of the Interior of Venezuela