The Venezuelan Armed Forces destroy an "invading plane" from an island in Mexico

Venezuela exercises meticulous control of its airspace, but unfortunately, it seems that some unauthorized planes are still managing to enter. The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) recently destroyed an “invading plane” from the Mexican island of Cozumel in the state of Zulia. This aircraft, a white Gulfstream with registration V3-GRS, entered Venezuelan airspace without permission and with its transponder turned off, according to military reports. The FANB activated a defense plan to immobilize and render the hostile aircraft unusable on the ground.

The FANB suspects that the plane was being used by transnational groups involved in drug and weapons trafficking along the border with Colombia. Photos shared by Hernández Lárez show the plane in mid-flight and later engulfed in flames in a forested area.

This is not the first time that Venezuela has intercepted and neutralized unauthorized aircraft. In November, another hostile plane was immobilized in Apure state. Additionally, in August, the Armed Forces destroyed two small planes associated with drug trafficking and illegal mining in the Amazonian state of Bolívar, which shares a border with Brazil. Since the beginning of 2023, a total of 38 invading planes linked to drug trafficking and illegal mining have been disabled by Venezuela in their efforts to eradicate these illegal activities in the Amazon.