staff of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) seized equipment and deactivated a camp used to carry out illegal mining practices in the Canaima National Park, located in Bolívar state, reported the head of the FANB Strategic Operational Command (Ceofanb), Domingo Hernández Lárez.
In a message posted on his account on the social network Twitter, Hernández Lárez explained that they were destroyed in the illegal camp: two engines, two pumps, fuel, a raft, hoses and other implements used for illegal mining.
“In it National park Canaima #FANB deactivates illegal mining camp, destroying: 2 engines, 2 pumps, fuel, 1 raft, hoses and other illegal mining implements. Mining in areas protected by the State is prohibited,” the Chief of Ceofanb published on Twitter.
Faced with the dismantling of the camp in Canaima, Hernández Lárez stressed that the FANB remains active “fighting illegal mining groups who arbitrarily establish themselves in natural parks protected by the State, destroying the environment and the vegetation layer, violating the territorial legal order ».
Environmental protection: historical objective
The Chief of Ceofanb stressed that “environmental protection is a National Historical Objective”, therefore, forests, forest reserves and national parks are protected by the State.
In this sense, he has affirmed that the FANB will dismantle any structure that violates the legal ordinances regarding the Venezuelan territory.
Hernández Lárez explained that the protection of areas and territories that house ecosystems is stipulated in the nation’s defense plans.
«The National Parks of Venezuela are areas and territories that house ecosystems that are protected by the State from alteration by human exploitation or occupation. The security and defense plans contemplate their protection,” he added.
Clandestine deposit in Bolívar
Likewise, in the operations deployed in Bolívar through patrol work, the FANB dismantled a clandestine fuel tank with a capacity of 30,000 liters, used by the criminal group “La organización.”
“In the state of Bolívar, during patrol work, #FANB dismantles a clandestine fuel tank with a capacity of 30,000 liters, used by the criminal group “La organización”,” he added.
They fight illegal mining in the Yapacana Park
The Chief of Ceofanb recalled that in the Yapacana National Park, located in the state Amazonthe FANB is also deployed combating illegal mining committed by irregular groups.
“#FANB deployed in the Yapacana National Park, dismantling illegal mining structures that threaten the territorial legal order and the security and defense of the nation. No human group can degrade the environment in the areas protected by the State », he said.
Operation Autana 2023
In recent days, the Chief of Ceofanb ratified the deployment of Operation Autana 2023, “in defense of our Natural Parks, Forests and Forest Reserves, against illegal mining. All illegal structures installed in the Security Zones protected by the State will be destroyed.
In this sense, he ratified that the FANB will continue working to eliminate irregular groups that intend to attack the ecosystem.
So far this year, the FANB already has five successful operations against illegal mining.
Below is a series of photos published by the Chief of Ceofanb after the dismantling of the illegal camp in the Canaima National Park:
