Presidential command post in Las Tejerias, Aragua state, built after the landslide affecting the region in the last quarter of 2022. Photo: Ăltimas Noticias/File photo.
This Wednesday, February 8, the Venezuelan Ministry of the Interior, Justice and Peace, ordered the reinforcement of security at the presidential command post that was built in Las TejerĂas, Aragua, after the landslide that affected the region in October 2022.
This action is in response to an armed attack carried out last Sunday, February 5, against the headquarters of the Scientific, Penal, and Criminal Investigations Corps (CICPC) and Bolivarian National Police (PNB) located in the area, according to local media outlets.
Meanwhile, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) remains deployed in the surrounding areas of Las TejerĂas, to closely monitor the coast and the valleys of the state of Aragua, heavily affected by gang violence.
https://twitter.com/42AraguaInvicta/status/1622960800867684353
The FANB is in search of gang members on drug trafficking routes, which recently confronted the security forces in the region. Shots came from the mountainous areas that surround Las TejerĂasâspecifically, the hills surrounding the El BĂ©isbol neighborhood, the sources said.
Agents from the Rural Commando Detachment of the Bolivarian National Guard went to the site to repel the attack. Subsequently, armored units from the PNB Strategic and Tactical Actions Directorate (DAET) arrived with approximately 200 men, who took up positions at key points in Las TejerĂas. So far, there is no report of casualties of the attack.
Government of Venezuela Continues Recovery Work in Disaster-Affected Las TejerĂas
El Conejo gang
Authorities presume that said attack occurred between Sunday night and Monday morning, and was perpetrated by members of the gang of Carlos Enrique GĂłmez RodrĂguez, aka El Conejo (The Rabbit).
These violent groups were expelled during the operation Gran Cacique Guaicaipuro 2, between April 5 and 9, 2022. The attack on Sunday occurred exactly one year after the aforementioned operation where Carlos Revette (El Koki) was killed. This gangster led the criminal gang that operated in Cota 905, Caracas.
President Maduro Praises Communal Power Work in Las TejerĂas and Maracay Recovery
Another mercenary incursion?
Operation Gideon attempted to overthrow the government of President NicolĂĄs Maduro in May 2020, through an armed deployment carried out by Colombian paramilitaries and Venezuelan deserters. They acted under the coordination of US mercenaries hired by the false interim government of former deputy Juan GuaidĂł.
In July 2021, leaders of the extreme right-wing Voluntad Popular (Popular Will) party conspired with various mega-gangs in the capitalâincluding that of âEl Koki,â which operated in Cota 905âto perpetrate destabilizing actions within the framework of the âFiesta de Caracasâ operation.
As a consequence of these events, former deputy Freddy Guevara was arrested, who later received a release benefit. This was performed as a demonstration of willingness to dialogue with the extreme right of the country, shown by the President Maduro administration.
This is the second attack in a week that has been carried out against law enforcing agencies located in the central region of Venezuela. The first occurred on Wednesday, February 1, in the Carlos Arvelo (GĂŒigue) municipality, Carabobo, where four individuals arrived on a motorcycle at the police headquarters located in front of the mayor’s office and fired at uniformed officers, three of whom were injured.
Strategic analysis
Local analysts have engaged in public debate in recent days, trying to find the possible causes of this recent revival attempt of gang violence and its possible connection with the upcoming 2024 presidential elections and the terrible approval rating that far-right opposition parties and leaders show in the polls.
Some analysts believe that these recent violent incidents might be a new, easy, violent solution taken by far-right political groups to provoke national commotion and push for regime change, amid their lack of real chances of defeating Chavismo in the upcoming presidential race.
On the other hand, it is a reality that aside from the success of the police-military operation Gran Cacique Guaicaipuro 1 and 2, the El Conejo gang and its leader was not subdued or defeated properly. For that reason, some experts believe that this might be the opening of a new police-military operation, to finally subdue these violent paramilitary organizations, that have shown connections not just with Colombian paramilitaries and drug-trafficking groups, but also with US agencies.
(RedRadioVE) by Dubraska Esteves, with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/AU
