Colombia investigating Venezuela border incident
BOGOTA, Colombia (AFP) – Colombia said Sunday it was investigating reports a Venezuelan patrol boat crossed a border river and exchanged fire with its police.
The foreign ministry said the Venezuelan patrol boat was reported to have chased some people in canoes to the Colombian side of the Arauca river, where the exchange of fire occurred.
No one was reported injured in the incident late Saturday, it said.
The government “has entered into contact with the authorities of Venezuela for the purpose of clearing up the circumstances in which these events took place, and to take appropriate action.”
The two countries share a 2,219 kilometre (1,378 mile) border, which has been a source of tension since Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro closed border crossings last August in a crackdown on smuggling.
