The director of Security of the Government of Táchira, Fernando Tarazona, reported that they increased homicides in this entity by more than 80% during December 2017, in comparison with the same month of 2016. He attributed this fact to the impact that the crisis has had Venezuelan police and security bodies, because they do not have the resources to protect citizens.
Tarazona, a former official of the Táchira Police, said that in the last month of 2017 there were nine murders in the municipality of Bolívar (San Antonio del Táchira) and seven others in García de Hevia (La Fría). The sum of these figures exceeds the 11 violent deaths registered throughout the state in 2016 and also the number of cases recorded in December of that year.
"It increased by 87%. That is why the revision of the security plans was ordered. A review of the police patrol in Táchira was made and we realized that the agencies do not have the logistical or personnel resources to carry out patrols, "said Tarazona.
The Táchira Police, which remains intervened by the Ministry of the Interior and Justice after the regional elections in October 2017, is assigned 73 quadrants, followed by the PNB with 20 quadrants, the GNB with 16 quadrants, the Municipal Police of the municipality of Torbes with 3 and that of the Cárdenas municipality with 2 quadrants for a total of 114 peace quadrants.
The Táchira Police, which has more responsibility throughout the state, only has 24 units, which means that 49 sectors are left without preventive patrols.
About the homicides that occurred in the border area with the modality of deaths by commission or hired killers, the official pointed out that the majority is due to disputes over control of the territory. He added that they sent a report to the National Armed Forces to carry out the corresponding security actions in order to reduce violent deaths.
Tarazona also said that the border security coordination with Colombia is handled by the FANB and does not provide details or information to the government.
37 homicides by hired killers
11 homicides for resistance to authority
19 injured with a firearm