Members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) detected and seized 44,000 liters of fuel buried in the Imataca Forest Reserve in Bolívar state, as part of the search for the armed criminal group “El Negro Juancho”, which commits mining illegal.
The information was released by the head of the FANB Strategic Operational Command (Ceofanb), Domingo Hernández Lárez, who through his account on the social network Twitter gave an account of the search operation for this armed group that keeps the Bolivar population.
Likewise, Hernández Lárez explained that this group called “El negro Juancho” had hidden the liters of fuel to be used in illegal mining works.
This armed group has subjected and terrorized the population of the sector, he said.
“More than forty-four thousand liters (44,000 Lts.) of fuel are detected by the #FANB buried (hidden underground) while carrying out search, location and tracking operations for the armed criminal gang “El Negro Juancho” in the Forest Reserve de Imataca in the state of Bolívar, where they arbitrarily subjugate and terrorize the population, they carry out illegal mining, destroying the environment in areas of State security”, the Chief of Ceofanb published on Twitter.
Complete equipment for illegal mining
The FANB also through the procedure found and seized a complete equipment to commit practices of illegal minery and thus destroy the environment.
Among the equipment were: “Three (03) outboard motors, twenty (20) current generators, thirteen (13) motors, hydropneumatic percussion hammers, twenty-one (21) hydraulic pumps and other logistical materials,” said Hernández Lárez.
“Three (03) outboard motors, twenty (20) current generators, thirteen (13) engines, hydropneumatic percussion hammers, twenty-one (21) hydraulic pumps and other logistic materials, are detected by the #FANB buried (hidden underground) in an improvised criminal camp while carrying out search, location and tracking operations for the members of the armed criminal gang “El Negro Juancho” who arbitrarily and with impunity destroy nature, operating surreptitiously in the Imataca Forest Reserve of the state Bolívar, where under the terror of arms they subdue the population to carry out illegal mining, destroying the environment and ecosystems in areas of State security,” he said on the social network.
Mining: environmental catastrophes
The Chief of Ceofanb stressed that environmental exploitation requires “earth movements that imply the use of complex chemical processes of flotation or leaching to obtain portions of recoverable materials for use. This process is toxic to human populations and ecosystems.”
Faced with this violation of environmental regulations, Hernández Lárez confirmed that the FANB will be deployed in compliance with the nation’s security and defense plans, in the capture of criminals who commit damage to natural resources.
“The violation of territorial ordering in mining exploitation is carried out arbitrarily in the open sky, requiring earthworks that imply the use of complex chemical processes of flotation or leaching to obtain portions of recoverable materials for use. This process is toxic to human populations and ecosystems, in addition to requiring the intensive use of other natural resources, mainly water and wood, causing environmental catastrophes such as sedimentation and the extermination of life in ecosystems. #FANB deployed in the security and defense plans of the nation, in the capture of criminals and destruction of their logistic structures”, he said on Twitter.
Arrests: Operation “Lead”
Given these findings, the FANB captured at least four subjects involved in illegal mining activities, through the operation called “Lead”.
“In the activation of the strategic operation “Lead” against the armed groups that generate violence from illegal mining and environmental depredation, #FANB apprehends an armed subject who is a member of a criminal gang, destroying the environment in the Imataca Forest Reserve. The preservation of the environment is a constitutional duty, ”he said on the social network Twitter.
In the published message, a citizen named Edumar Romero appears, who indicated that he was part of the criminal gang and that he was the gate keeper, who looks after the facilities of the illegal structure.
Likewise, three subjects who practiced illegal mining in the Yapacana Park, in the state of Amazonas, were detained.
FANB: protector of the 34 national parks
The Chief of Ceofanb recalled that “in Venezuela there are thirty-four (34) national parks considered security zones under a special administration regime, which cannot be exploited by man.”
Therefore, he ratified that the FANB will remain active to eliminate all illegal groups and structures that commit ecocide.
