Representatives from the Venezuelan National Guard and the National Integrated Service of Customs and Tax Administration (SENIAT) have seized 19 rifles inside a commercial cargo plane at the Arturo Michelena International Airport in Valencia, according to the Deputy Minister for Prevention and Citizen Security in Venezuela, Endes Palencia.
#5Feb | #EsNoticia Incautado armamento bélico procedente de EEUU en aeropuerto internacional de Valencia 👉🏻 Aquí los detalles https://t.co/PWyD5axrUh pic.twitter.com/sipf2Xfiv1
— MPPRIJP (@MIJPVenezuela) 5 февраля 2019 г.
According to the ministry, high-calibre ammunition, 19 rifles and 118 magazines, as well as 90 radios and six mobile phones were found in the stash that was likely sent from Miami, Florida on 3 February. The authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
✔19 fusiles
— GD Endes Palencia Ortiz (@PalenciaEndes) 5 февраля 2019 г.
✔118 cargadores de fusil
✔4 porta fusil
✔3 miras para fusil
✔90 antenas de radio
✔6 teléfonos fueron hallados en el patio de almacenamiento del aeropuerto de Valencia los cuales ingresaron al país el #3Feb en el Air Bus N881YV procedente de Miami,EEUU #5Feb pic.twitter.com/5wnBFnxaFt
Donald Trump, while commenting on the Venezuelan crisis during his second State of the Union address said that the United States stands with Venezuelans "in their noble quest for freedom".
READ MORE: US Has ‘Overplayed Their Hand' in Venezuela, Can't Pull Off a Color Revolution
Venezuelan authorities have blamed Washington for the crisis, with democratically elected President Nicolas Maduro accusing the White House of attempting to organise a coup in the oil-rich country and announcing the cessation of diplomatic ties with the United States.
On Sunday, Trump said in an interview with the US broadcaster CBS that a US military intervention in Venezuela remains "an option". Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza described the statement as proof that Washington is behind an attempt to stage a coup d'etat in the Latin American country.
