Maduro Cuts Off Venezuela’s Air and Sea Traffic With 3 Island Neighbors
“They take away gold from this country illegally, and make it legal to sell there; they take
away coltan, they take away diamonds, they take away all food products,” Mr. Maduro said.
“I didn’t want to take a measure like this one, but I am ready to take even more radical measures.”
The Caribbean islands, which are short distances from Venezuela’s northern coast, have long hosted black
markets for Venezuelan contraband, trading everything from illegally mined minerals to narcotics.
MEDELLÍN, Colombia — President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela ordered a temporary shutdown of air
and maritime traffic with three Caribbean neighbors on Friday, accusing smugglers there of seeking to plunder his country.
The countries, however, have become better known under Mr. Maduro’s presidency as the
landing site of boats of hungry Venezuelans fleeing their country’s food shortages.
In a televised address, Mr. Maduro said he had halted all flights and ship traffic to Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao for 72 hours.
