Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, announced on Monday a new anti-terrorist operation and the suspension of all flights from Colombia. Photo: Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace.
Guacamaya, May 19, 2025. Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, announced this Monday the suspension of all flights from Colombia for security reasons. The news was delivered during a televised speech, where he claimed that terrorist groups intended to enter the country disguised as tourists.
“We have ordered the immediate suspension of all flights from Colombia to Venezuela,” Cabello stated during a press conference. He also suggested that opposition leaders and former Colombian officials were linked to this alleged operation. Though no specific timeline was given for the measure, he indicated it would likely remain in place beyond the May 25 elections.
Cabello reported that Venezuelan authorities had recently detained 38 individuals suspected of being mercenaries, including 17 foreigners and 21 Venezuelans. Among those arrested were alleged explosives experts and human traffickers. The official claimed these individuals came from Colombia, Mexico, and Ukraine but did not provide a breakdown by nationality.
The PSUV leader also accused opposition figure María Corina Machado of being behind the alleged conspiracy, which he claimed was financed by Colombian drug traffickers and involved figures such as Álvaro Uribe, Iván Duque, and Juan Manuel Santos. He also named Iván Simonovis as one of the organizers of this new plot, calling it “another failed attempt” while warning of its danger.
This decision will severely impact air connectivity in Venezuela, as Colombia has been a key transit point for travelers heading to destinations like the United States, Argentina, and Panama. The recent suspension of flights to the Dominican Republic and Panama further worsens the already limited availability of international flights in the country. Thousands of passengers who relied on connecting flights through cities like Bogotá and Medellín will be affected by this new restriction.
Cabello appeared in his dual role as Sectoral Vice President for Politics, Citizen Security, and Peace, as well as Interior Minister—positions he has held since August 2024. This is one of several operations targeting individuals he accuses of ties to both the opposition and drug trafficking, including multiple foreign nationals.
