Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is still supporting the FARC. However,
Colombia’s largest rebel group receive less support than a year ago, US
intelligence officials said Tuesday.
According to the officials, Chávez has been able to cut help to the FARC because of the falling oil prices that result in less income for the Venezuelan State.
US Director of National Intelligence, retired Rear Admiral
Dennis C. Blair and General Michael Maples of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told the U.S. Senate Armed Forces Committee that the U.S. backed war against the Marxist insurgency is successful and the FARC have suffered “major setback”, but continue being active in drug trafficking.
Senator Martínez asked the security officials about the alleged help of Venezuelan authorities with drug trafficking, but General Maples said to have “no information about that.”