There are 25 detainees so far in 2023 on the border between Colombia and Venezuela | news today

Several people enter Colombia from Venezuela through the Simón Bolívar Bridge in Cúcuta (Colombia).

Photo: EFE – Mario Caicedo

At least 25 people have been detained this year at the Simón Bolívar International Bridge, the main border post between Colombia and Venezuela, the Venezuelan Administrative Service for Identification, Migration and Aliens (Saime) reported on Monday.

Through Instagram, the institution explained that the arrests took place when the subjects “intended to leave Venezuelan lands”, as they were requested by the country’s Justice.

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“Migratory Police service personnel reported that the arrests were made after verification of identity documents through Saime and the Police Investigation and Information System (Siipol),” he explained.

He added that more than 100 immigration police officers are deployed at some 70 border control points to verify the documentation of Venezuelans and foreigners entering and leaving the country.

Also on Instagram, the Ministry of the Interior and Justice assured that, after being arrested, the citizens were placed “at the orders” of the judicial bodies, without offering details about those apprehended or the crimes for which they are accused.

On September 26, Colombia and Venezuela officially reopened their common border -of 2,219 kilometers- after 7 years, although pedestrian crossing was always allowed, although with restrictions.

This process was expanded on January 1, when the Atanasio Girardot binational bridge was inaugurated, which once again allowed the passage of all types of vehicles between the two nations.

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On February 16, the presidents of Venezuela and Colombia, Nicolás Maduro and Gustavo Petro, respectively, ratified the good moment of the bilateral relationship in a meeting on the border, in which they also signed a new trade agreement.

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