Two Bolivarian officers were killed in combat during the action. | Photo: FANB Press

Caracas, March 23 (RHC)-- The Venezuelan Minister of Defense, General in Chief Vladimir Padrino Lopez, reported on Monday that during the confrontations that took place this Sunday against Colombian irregular armed groups in the state of Apure, one of the leaders of the groups, known as "El Nando," was killed.

The statement also reported that 32 other individuals were captured, six camps were destroyed and weapons, ammunition, explosives, war equipment, vehicles and drugs were seized.

Likewise, Padrino López regretted the death in combat of Major Edward Ramón Corobo Segovia and First Lieutenant Yonathan Miguel Duarte.  Other military personnel were wounded, who are being given the corresponding medical attention.

"We express our most sincere words of condolences to the families, friends and comrades-in-arms of these brave officers, who offered their lives in the field of honor fulfilling the sacred duty of defending the Homeland", expressed the Minister of Defense, regarding the fallen officers.

"Military units with the support of State security agencies continue to carry out search and pursuit operations in the area. In this sense, the FNAB reiterates to all the Venezuelan people, the strict compliance with the order given by the citizen Nicolás Maduro Moros, constitutional president of the Republic, our Commander in Chief, of zero tolerance against this type of criminal groups," stated the army general.

Padrino López also emphasized the "unavoidable commitment to continue fighting transnational crimes of paramilitarism, drug trafficking and any other that they intend to carry out in our territory, deploying all available operational capabilities to guarantee peace, sovereignty and national independence."