Venezuelan authorities deported 48 Colombians on Thursday, including three of the eight Colombians who were arrested on suspicion of espionage in late March, reports El Mundo.
The Colombian nationals were brought to the the Simon Bolivar Bridge connecting the two Andean nations in the Colombian city of Cucuta, capital of the Norte de Santander department, to be handed over to Colombian authorities.
According to reports, Andres Cadavid, Omar Alexander Rey, and Dimas Armando Orellano, three of the eight Colombians held since March accused of spying on Venezuela’s power grid system, were amongst those released.
Colombian media reported Wednesday that Venezuela would release Isabel Giraldo, Santiago Giraldo and Cruz Elba Giraldo, arrested in March with their above-mentioned family members. Contradictory reports make it unclear if the Giraldos have been released.
It also remains unclear why the other 45 Colombians were deported on Thursday. Some reports indicate that they may have been working in Venezuela illegally.
On Tuesday, Venezuelan authorities detained nineteen Colombians, who were allegedly “caught red-handed” carrying rifles in the Yaguapita forest in the north Venezuelan state of Miranda.
The police report said that the Colombians “were indiscriminately cutting down trees and vegetation” in the zone.