Venezuela Shoots Down Mexican Aircraft: Was The Plane Trafficking Drugs?

Venezuela shot down a Mexican aircraft , the Caracas government revealed on Wednesday. As Univision reports, the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations demanded an explanation from the Venezuelan administration following the publication of photos of the destroyed aircraft. The Mexican embassy in Venezuela has not as yet received a response from Venezuelan authorities. The plane was a Hawker 25 with registration XB-MGM, registered to Monterrey - it was shot down not far from the Colombian border.

Venezuela's military intercepted the Mexican aircraft seven nautical miles north of Buena Visat del Meta, in the Venezuelan state of Apure. Venezuelan General Vladimir Padrino made the announcement via Twitter earlier today. He also publsihed photographs of the charred plane, but did not reveal information in regards to casualties. This crash is the fourth since the 20th of October, also in the state of Apure, when the Aerospacial Defense Comand detected a "rogue aircraft" which was "carrying drugs."

According to NBC, since 2007, the Venezuelan government has been undertaking Operation Boquete, a program designed to destroy runways hidden throughout the state of Apure which are used by drug traffickers. Venezuela does not produce drugs, however it is one of the most significant countries through which drugs pass from Colombia to Mexico and eventually the US.