Caracas, October 10 (PL-RHC)-- Naval chiefs of Venezuela and Colombia met Friday in the northwestern state of Zulia, as part of the strategy agreed by both countries to fight smuggling and paramilitaries in the border.

The meeting took place in Maracaibo, the capital of Zulia, with the participation of the general commander of the Armed Forces of Venezuela, Franklin Montplaisier, and the head of the National Armed Forces of Colombia, Leonardo Santamaria.

The meeting is the second between military chiefs from both countries, after a meeting in Ecuador by the Presidents of Venezuela and Colombia, Nicolas Maduro and Juan Manuel Santos respectively, in which both Presidents agreed to work together to eradicate border problems.

Last Friday, The Defense Ministers of Venezuela, Vladimir Padrino, and Colombia, Luis Carlos Villegas, agreed to strengthen the security in the zone.

According to Padrino, the most important thing to achieve, is the understanding and the will to increase the effectiveness on the fight against smuggling extraction, drug trafficking and paramilitarism.

The plan establishes direct and constant contact, as well as the creation of bilateral institutions during the coming weeks.