CARACAS, Venezuela, July 15 (UPI) -- After judicial processing, Venezuela will deport all foreigners, mostly Colombians, who were arrested as part a recent large-scale anti-gang raid.
Many of the suspected criminals are accused of being paramilitaries with the "majority of Colombian nationality," according to Venezuela's Deputy Minister of Interior Policy and Judicial Security Yahir Muñoz.
At least 15 suspected criminals were killed and 134 were arrested in west Caracas' Cota 905 sector as part of the nationwide "Liberation of the People" security operation.
The raid took place early Monday in an attempt to dismantle gangs and recover stolen cars. The operation was carried out by about 200 security personnel from Venezuela's Bolivarian National Guard (GNB), Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN) and Extortion and Kidnapping Group (GAES).
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Muñoz said 14 of the 15 killed in the raid have been identified, adding that the national security operation would be permanent, and not a temporary solution to Venezuela's pervasive criminal issues.
Only one family member was allowed to enter the morgue at a time to identify bodies, which led to small protests by the families. Security officials impeded journalists' reporting, citing orders from commanders.
An estimated seven criminal gangs were dismantled in the raid. Of the 134 arrested, about 32 were foreigners who had a "direct link with the Colombian paramilitaries," according to Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace Gustavo González López. Many are accused of crimes including drug trafficking, kidnapping and murder.
About 20 stolen vehicles, 12 handguns, two rifles and two fragmentation grenades were recovered.
"He who attacks, who kills our people, is an enemy of the people," Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Monday evening referring to the operation. "Nobody is going to blackmail me, the Liberation of the People Operation will continue," he later added.
Venezuelan officials are attempting to tackle an economic and security crisis as the country has one of the highest levels of inflation in the world and is also one of the most dangerous. The country is also deeply divided politically, where the country's opposition accuses the government of massive corruption and inefficiency.
The official murder rate estimate in Venezuela was 39 murders per 1,000 people in 2013, but independent nonprofit groups argue the figure to be much higher.
