RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Without jobs and money to buy basic products such as milk and medicines, Venezuelans have been increasingly subjected to any type of work. This now includes gold and diamond prospecting in the heart of the Amazon forest, with no protection whatsoever; the region boasts large mineral reserves, which have attracted criminal groups. Venezuelans often end up in the grip of organized crime networks.
A UN study released on Wednesday, July 15th, points out that the gold and diamond mines in the Venezuelan Amazon, which are worth millions of dollars, have been seized by groups that operate illegally. Some have links with networks operating throughout Latin America and other regions of the world.
The UN report contains alarming information. “Much of the mining activity is controlled by criminal groups and armed individuals. They determine who goes in and who comes out of the mines and they benefit economically from the profits obtained, even by collecting protection fees from miners,” the survey says.
There is also evidence that paramilitary groups like the Lebanese Hezbollah, supported by Iran, operate in the country by engaging in activities that could range from smuggling goods to training mercenaries. The Venezuelan government itself is not free of accusations about potential links with international organized crime.
“Venezuela has been taken over by groups that engage in criminal activities,” said Maria Teresa Belandría, Venezuela’s extraordinary ambassador to Brazil, who represents opposition leader Juan Guaidó, proclaimed Venezuela’s interim president in January 2019. “There is everything from drugs, precious metals, and even arms trafficking, conducted with the support of groups like the FARCS and Iranian operatives.”
The current government of President Nicolás Maduro, accused of fraud in the 2018 elections, is not officially recognized by 60 countries, including Brazil.
Behind the scenes of Brazil’s military and diplomatic relations, the situation in Venezuela is viewed with concern. The Ministry of Defense is closely following the crisis in the neighboring country. The main concern is an economic, social, and political meltdown that will trigger even greater unrest, with complex developments.
Venezuela’s GDP is expected to drop 15 percent this year. The country, which was once one of South America’s most affluent nations, is experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis. Even the Venezuelan oil industry is being depleted, with no resources to invest in maintaining oil wells and refineries. Venezuela has one of the world’s largest oil reserves.
The coronavirus is not helping. The Venezuelan government announced on Wednesday, July 15th, that the state of emergency will be extended for another month. Officially, there are 1,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, but that figure could be much higher. “Government information does not inspire much trust,” says Maria Teresa. “Meanwhile, the economy is in tatters and people are starving.”
Source: Exame
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