With full alert at the border, the State of the Andes of Venezuela is declared. In Táchira, a border area with Colombia, the first seizure of fentanyl, the powerful substance called the ‘zombie drug’, was made.

The seizure took place last week in San Antonio del Táchira, the governor of that Andean state, Freddy Bernal, reported on Monday, September 4, 2023.

Authorities have arrested a man carrying 45 portions of fentanyl. He did not reveal the identity of the person concerned, but indicated that he was left to the discretion of the competent courts.

“It’s a pity, it’s the zombie drug, it’s the drug that kills and causes 300% more addiction than cocaine and the death rate is appalling,” Governor Bernal described as a warning.

Fentanyl, the EFE agency stressed, “is a potent synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than morphine and caused the worst drug crisis in the history of the United States, where more than 70,000 people died of drug overdoses last year.” .

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Speaking to the media, Bernal said: “We are on full alert at the border and the Bolivarian National Guard (military corps) is there as a retaining wall against the drug trade.”

According to the regional authority, “Táchira ranks first in terms of efficiency in the fight” against trafficking in illegal substances.

Unfortunately, he said, “the fact that a person with fentanyl has been arrested in San Antonio means that we will be conducting permanent procedures (to prevent admission) of fentanyl.”

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Freddy Bernal issued a warning call to parents and representatives, teachers and principals (of schools) “to be aware of our boys.”

He also drew the attention of nightclub owners and announced that controls on access to these places will be strengthened in San Cristóbal, the capital of Tachira, and throughout the state.

There will be controls to prevent this deadly drug from entering Táchira “and we will be very drastic when it comes to arresting and prosecuting them,” he said, referring to those apprehended with doses of fentanyl. (JO)