Borges: “Maduro and his entourage are responsible for the presence of irregular groups in Venezuela”

The presidential commissioner for Foreign Relations, Julio Borges, denounced that irregular armed groups have established themselves in Venezuelan territory with the protection and backing of Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship.

“The presence of irregular groups in Venezuela is a reality, they have control over the territory and are financed by illegal mining and drug trafficking. Nicolás Maduro and those around him are responsible,” said Borges.

Similarly, Borges explained that “there is no longer only the presence of irregular groups originating in Colombia, such as the dissident FARC or the ELN, but the presence of autonomous armed groups has also been reported in different states.”

“Gold acts as the main revenue source, along with drug trafficking, to finance these groups. Furthermore, there are dealings that link Nicolás Maduro and his son, who is totally inmerse in the corrupt gold process and has to do with the same violence that has been generated by gold,” he said.

Finally, Borges highlighted the case of the ELN, which is financed mainly by the control that Maduro’s regime has given it over the administration of the mines. “Their income comes from the exploitation of gold.”

La presencia de grupos irregulares en Venezuela es una realidad, tienen control sobre el territorio y se financian de la minería ilegal y el narcotráfico. Nicolás Maduro y su entorno son los responsables. pic.twitter.com/tnOJsYkK3W

— Julio Borges (@JulioBorges) January 14, 2021