Diosdado Cabello stated that Peace Zone No. 2 and Peace Zone No. 3 will soon be activated to cover the entire border with Colombia. Photo: VTV
Guacamaya, August 25, 2025. This Monday, the so-called Peace Zone No. 1 was activated in the border states of Zulia and Táchira, with an initial deployment of 15,000 personnel, including military and police forces. The announcement was made by the Sectoral Vice President for Politics, Citizen Security, and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, who noted that the action was ordered by President Nicolás Maduro
Cabello, who also serves as Minister of Interior, Justice, and Peace, emphasized that the measure aims to strengthen security and combat organized crime in a region vital for commercial and strategic activity due to its border characteristics. He explained that the personnel include not only members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) but also police units.
“This deployment is already underway with a special effort involving troops, aviation, and drones (…) to safeguard our borders, ensure security, fight drug gangs, and protect the sovereignty of the homeland alongside the people,” said Diosdado Cabello. He also highlighted the favorable response from the Colombian government and urged it to implement similar measures.
The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding signed in July between both countries, which proposes and promotes cooperation in trade, mobility, security, and binational connectivity. However, the measure also comes amid high external pressure following the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean, announced as part of efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.
FANB Reports Destruction of Armed Camps
In a complementary statement, the head of the Strategic Operational Command of the FANB (CEO-FANB), Domingo Hernández Lárez, reported that so far this year, the Armed Forces have destroyed up to 10 armed camps in border territory. “Venezuelan geographic space is a zone of peace, where no type of foreign military base of any nature is allowed or will be allowed,” he affirmed.
In this regard, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López denied the continued presence of Colombian armed group camps in Venezuela. This follows recent accusations from the director of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Terry Cole, alleging collaboration between the Venezuelan government and guerrilla groups from the neighboring country involved in drug trafficking.
Death of Zarco Aldinever and Violence in Venezuelan Territory
Despite Padrino’s statements, the death of alias Zarco Aldinever, a high-ranking member of the FARC dissident group known as Segunda Marquetalia, was recently confirmed in Venezuelan territory. He was killed in an ambush carried out by the National Liberation Army (ELN) in a wooded region of Apure. The motivations are believed to be related to drug trafficking disputes and territorial control.
Meanwhile, the pro-government mayor of Maroa, in the state of Amazonas, Florizel Guerrero, denounced the presence and activity of irregular armed groups in her locality. The local leader emphasized the ongoing violence in various communities at the hands of these groups and called for increased military control in critical border areas to preserve sovereignty.
The deployment of Peace Zone No. 1, announced by Cabello, aims to control a historically complex border amid escalating tensions with the United States over security and drug trafficking. The official indicated that at least two additional peace zones are expected to be activated in the border states of Apure and Amazonas to expand the strategic operation.
