Caracas, April 27, 2020
Vladimir Padrino López
FANB General-in-Chief
FANB frustrates false flag trying to involve Simon Bolívar Training Ship in illegal operations
The Venezuelan state, adhered to the principles embodied by the Bolivarian Revolution, has been fighting a frontal battle against drug trafficking cartels that have tried to use our territory for their evil purposes. Specifically, in the last weeks we have dealt hard blows to different contacts of these cartels, which operate with the DEA consent. As part of these efforts, which so far this year have enabled the seizure of more than 20 tons of drugs and the neutralization of a significant number of drug airplanes, our counterintelligence agencies have frustrated an operation that tried to involve the Simón Bolívar Training Ship of the Bolivarian Navy in drug trafficking.
The world knows very well the perverse maneuvers of the U.S. government and its agencies, which act as a Police State and try to discredit Venezuela and its legitimate authorities by trying to link them with drug trafficking activities. This is the reason why they have tried to stage a false flag operation on this distinguished ship, a symbol of Bolivarianism and where the will of steel of the Venezuelan navy youth is forged. All of this is aimed at breaking the morale, the monolithic unity and the combative spirit of the institution, which is deeply indignant at such evil pretensions. Noteworthily, this is also an attempt to shape public opinion, thus facilitating a military intervention.
Citizen Nicolás Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Commander-in-Chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Force, has ordered a deep investigation with the participation of all the institutions of the Venezuelan state in order to identify links, responsibilities and potential implicated individuals.
The Bolivarian National Armed Force strongly rejects these treacherous actions of the U.S. government and ratifies its strict adherence to the Venezuelan Constitution and legal system by maintaining its unshakeable commitment to continue fighting this criminal scourge that causes so much harm to humankind.