Venezuela protests

[Jaga]

grow more intense, with some people injured by pro-governmental tanks.
Majority of people around the world thinks that Maduro needs to leave,

[pieter]

I hope civil war can be avoided and that a good solution can be found for all Venezuelans. The country is very polarized and plagued by violence, crime, poverty, agression, discord, and problems Colombia and Mexico have too.

Illegal drug trade in Venezuela is a problem which causes tension with the USA. Venezuela has been a path to the United States for illegal drugs originating in Colombia, through Central America and Mexico and Caribbean countries such as Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.

According to a 2009 US report, 90% of US cocaine is sourced from Colombia, with Venezuela and the Caribbean accounting for around 10% of US-destined cocaine trans-shipments in 2010. Another significant route is directed to export cocaine, marijuana and other illegal drugs via direct sea shipments from Venezuela to Europe, with half of all direct shipments to Europe between 2006 and 2008 originating in Venezuela.

Aircraft routes

In 2012, the United States stated that from that the majority of aircraft related to drug trafficking originate from Venezuela's border area near Colombia, with "almost all the planes that land in Honduras, the focal point of Central American air drug trafficking, come from Venezuela.

Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan

In the early 1970s parts of the Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan moved to Venezuela, which became an important hideout as the clan bought hotels and founded various businesses in Caracas and Valencia, as well as an extended ranch in Barinas, near the Colombian border. "Venezuela has its own Cosa Nostra family as if it is Sicilian territory," according to the Italian police. "The structure and hierarchy of the Mafia has been entirely reproduced in Venezuela." The Cuntrera-Caruana clan had direct links with the ruling Commission of the Sicilian Mafia, and are acknowledged by the American Cosa Nostra.

Pasquale, Paolo and Gaspare Cuntrera were expelled from Venezuela in 1992, "almost secretly smuggled out of the country, as if it concerned one of their own drug transports. It was imperative they could not contact people on the outside who could have used their political connections to stop the expulsion. " Their expulsion was ordered by a commission of the Venezuelan Senate headed by Senator Cristobal Fernandez Dalo and his money laundering investigator, Thor Halvorssen Hellum. They were arrested in September 1992 at Fiumicino airport (Rome), and in 1996 were sentenced to 13–20 years.

Venezuelan government

According to Jackson Diehl, Deputy Editorial Page Editor of The Washington Post, the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela shelters "one of the world’s biggest drug cartels". There have also been allegations that former president Hugo Chávez and Diosdado Cabello being involved with drug trafficking.

In May 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported from United States officials that drug trafficking in Venezuela increased significantly with Colombian drug traffickers moving from Colombia to Venezuela due to pressure from law enforcement. One United States Department of Justice official described the higher ranks of the Venezuelan government and military as "a criminal organization", with high ranking Venezuelan officials, such as National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello, being accused of drug trafficking and chief of Cartel of the Suns. Those involved with investigations stated that Venezuelan government defectors and former traffickers had given information to investigators and that details of those involved in government drug trafficking were increasing.

Source: Wikipedia

[karl]

Jaga

A very unpleasant situation indeed so, but not exactly unexpected in consideration of the down turn of a country rich in petroleum resources and once a supplier to the United States with petrol out lets at many convenience store outlets. With this, a very sizable amount of raw petroleum shipped to refineries in the US for seporating in to various products for reshipping on to the open market.

Some how, the riches of the country has been squandered away to the dismay of the people. It is of little wonder the people of venezuela are up set with retail shortages that now equal once full store shelves to now of empty spaces.

The following is a mix of unhappy people of both sides. It needs be to be reminded that of one side is one story whilst upon the other is another. Which is true needs be to remove the politics and take to the needs of the people. Another sticker that is the fuse that could lead to a very large explosion in one word: Oil and, who controls it.

www.vox.com/world/2019/5/2/18526615/venezuela-guaido-maduro-embassy-protest.

www.apnews.com/3dcbc78fb5ab4289ba06342265ba8c23

Karl

[Jaga]

Pieter, Karl

I still think the poverty and economical instability are the biggest problems in Venezuela, although drugs may influence the politics.
The most important is for the military to stop supporting Madura. Then we would have to go.

+++vkarl: The following is a mix of unhappy people of both sides.+++
not always both sides are equal, especially when there is not enough food