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Colombie-Vénézuela, sur la frontière des carteIs de la drogue - Les routes de l'impossible

Les Routes de l'impossible・19 minutes read

Gasoline smuggling in Cuestecitas, a town on the Colombia-Venezuela border, is driven by economic crises, leading to clashes and risky operations for smugglers like Jose Luis and Loro. The contraband trade includes not only fuel but also other goods like tires, chicken, and even car engines, highlighting the desperate conditions faced by communities on both sides of the border.

Insights

  • Gasoline smuggling in Cuestecitas, fueled by the price difference between Colombia and Venezuela, drives a dangerous and lucrative trade, impacting the region's economy and security.
  • The intricate web of smuggling activities in the border region, involving diverse groups like the Wayùu people, Venezuelan migrants, and local smugglers like Jose Luis and Loro, highlights the complex interplay of economic desperation, resource scarcity, and lawlessness in the area.

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Recent questions

  • What is the main economic activity in Cuestecitas?

    Gasoline smuggling

  • How do Venezuelans in Cúcuta acquire essential goods?

    Exchange bolivars for Colombian pesos

  • What is a highly sought-after commodity for Venezuelans in Colombia?

    Tires

  • How do small carriers in Cúcuta transport goods across the border?

    On foot

  • What is a significant source of income for Loro?

    Gas cylinder smuggling

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Summary

00:00

Contraband Gasoline: Lucrative Smuggling in Border Town

  • Cuestecitas is a small town with 4000 inhabitants located between Colombia and Venezuela, known for contraband gasoline sales.
  • Gasoline is sold at a fraction of the price in Colombia, making it a lucrative business for cartels.
  • Jose Luis, a gasoline smuggler, uses a modified 4x4 vehicle to transport over three tons of fuel from Venezuela.
  • The border region between Colombia and Venezuela is lawless, with clashes between soldiers, armed groups, and traffickers.
  • Due to Venezuela's economic crisis, its citizens flock to Colombia for basic necessities, leading to a surge in contraband gasoline sales.
  • The Wayùu people, suffering from drought, also engage in gasoline smuggling to survive in the arid Colombian desert.
  • Jose Luis faces the constant threat of police confiscation and imprisonment while navigating smuggling routes.
  • In Cúcuta, a border town, Venezuelans exchange bolivars for Colombian pesos to buy essential goods due to shortages in their country.
  • Tires are a highly sought-after commodity in Colombia for Venezuelans, who purchase basic necessities like food and hygiene products.
  • Small carriers in Cúcuta transport goods on foot across the border to comply with laws restricting Venezuelan vehicles from loading up.

25:24

Border Smuggling and Water Scarcity in La Guajira

  • Smugglers usually bribe military officers, but the presence of an unknown lieutenant complicates their operations.
  • Loro, a smuggler, pays soldiers 30 to 40 euros weekly to facilitate his activities.
  • Loro's accomplice signals when soldiers leave, allowing Loro to transport gas cylinders from Venezuela.
  • Other smugglers exploit the situation to transport surprising loads, like car engines, across the border.
  • Venezuelan coins, no longer in circulation, are sold to a foundry for making jewelry and trinkets.
  • Chicken trafficking is lucrative on the border, with Loro earning 150 euros monthly by selling a hundred hens daily.
  • Loro pays 4 euros per gas cylinder, selling them for double the price to sustain his livelihood.
  • Wayùu people in La Guajira face severe water scarcity, with women working tirelessly to fetch salty water from a well for nearly 100 families daily.
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